Beijing issues a response to Biden’s assertion regarding ‘problems’

Every nation has problems, which the US should be able to handle on its own, according to a Chinese official.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday that US President Joe Biden would be better off concentrating on domestic matters rather than claiming others have more pressing concerns.

She was reacting to claims in Western media that Biden had questioned Chinese President Xi Jinping’s leadership, asserting that the nation has “real problems” under his direction. This week, the two are expected to speak on the fringes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, which is being hosted by the US.

“President Xi is another example of how reestablishing American leadership in the world is taking hold,” stated Biden on Tuesday at a fundraiser, according to AFP. He did not specify which issues he was talking about.

READ ALSO: Biden urges for a short-term halt from Israel – Axios

At a news conference, Mao responded to questions over the report by saying that China benefited from unity inside the country under the Communist Party’s leadership. She continued by saying that she hoped the US could solve its own issues and improve the lives of its citizens.

According to the ambassador, mutual respect is “fundamental” to fostering better US-China relations, and both parties must work towards it.

Xi and Biden are expected to meet on Wednesday after arriving in San Francisco on Tuesday. The goal of the discussions is to reduce some of the bilateral tensions between the two countries.

The relationship is currently strained by a variety of concerns, including Beijing’s charges that Washington is supporting separatism on Taiwan, a self-administered Chinese island, and the US restriction on selling China cutting-edge semiconductors. There is also a fundamental difference of opinion regarding the nature of the conflict in Ukraine.