Troubled US-China relationship casts shadow over Joe Biden-Xi Jinping virtual meet

Monday's meeting, the two leaders' third engagement since Biden became president, comes amid mounting tensions in the US-China relationship. The two held long phone calls in February and September where they discussed human rights, trade, the pandemic and other issues.

Washington: Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping have slurped noodles together in Beijing. They've shared deep thoughts about the meaning of America during an exchange on the Tibetan plateau. They've gushed to US Business leaders about developing a sincere respect for each other.

The American President has held up his relationship with Xi as evidence of his heartfelt belief that good foreign policy starts with building strong personal relationships.

But as the two leaders prepare to hold their first presidential meeting on Monday, the troubled US-China relationship is demonstrating that the power of one of Biden's greatest professed strengths as a politician ‘the ability to connect’ has its limits.