First conversation between Biden and Xi since their November summit

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden called Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since their landmark in-person encounter in November. The call was the latest effort by US and Chinese officials to ease tensions.

According to a White House statement, the two presidents covered narcotics, artificial intelligence, and climate change, where US and Chinese authorities may cooperate.

The White House called the one-hour-45-minute meeting “candid and constructive” on subjects the presidents agreed and disagreed on. The White House said Biden underscored the need for “peace and stability” across the Taiwan Strait and highlighted worries about China supporting Russia's weapons sector.

Biden also expressed concerns about China's economic practices that damage American workers and pledged to prevent “advanced US technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade and investment.”

“The two leaders welcomed ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication and responsibly manage the relationship through high-level diplomacy and working-level consultations in the weeks and months ahead,” the readout stated, noting Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China.