A telephone call between the presidents of the US and China is in the works following high-level Sino-US talks in Bangkok between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the White House said.

China and the United States pledged to “continue high-level diplomatic exchanges and consultations on areas of strategic importance” to the two countries, “and this includes telephone communication between President Biden and President Xi,” the statement said. White House.

The National Security Adviser of US Jake Sullivan had constructive talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok, where they agreed to keep communication channels open and manage competition between the two countries, the White House also announced.

“Mr. Sullivan emphasized that although the United States and China are in competition, the two countries need to prevent this (competition) from turning into a conflict or confrontation,” the White House statement said.

China described as “sincere and meaningful” the talks between Wang Yi and Jake Sullivan in Bangkok during which the issue of Taiwan was also discussed, as Beijing clarified.

Sino-US relations have deteriorated in recent years over a range of issues: relations with Taiwan, trade, competition for new technologies, a race for influence in the Asia-Pacific region, tensions in the South China Sea and human rights.

But the two countries appear keen to renew dialogue with Washington sending senior officials to Beijing last year and a November meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in California.

Talks between the two delegations led by Jake Sullivan and Wang Yi took place yesterday and today in Bangkok.

“Both sides they had honest, meaningful and constructive conversations,” mainly “for the proper management of important and sensitive issues of Sino-US relations”, announced the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“The biggest challenge to China-US relations is the Taiwan independence movement,” Wang Yi told Jake Sullivan, according to the Beijing statement.

“The United States must (…) strictly adhere to its commitment not to support Taiwan’s independence and support China’s peaceful reunification” with the island, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China still considers Taiwan its province, which it has yet to incorporate into Chinese territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Beijing says it supports “peaceful” reunification with Taiwan and its 23 million people, which are governed under a democratic system. However, he has not ruled out the use of military force, especially in the event of an official declaration of the island’s independence.

Beijing has been angered in recent years by the strengthening of contacts between American and Taiwanese political officials.