Xi, Biden Hold ‘Virtual’ Meeting Amid Rising Tension

The virtual summit lasted for more than three and a half hours, wrapping up shortly before 12.30pm (04:30 GMT) Beijing time, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have spoken by phone twice since Biden’s inauguration in January, but Xi has not travelled overseas since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, ruling out the chance of a face-to-face meeting. In a highly anticipated summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Joe Biden on Monday, there were no breakthroughs and no signs of détente between the two sides. The virtual meeting that came amidst heightened tensions between…