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A senior US and Chinese official have agreed to plan a call between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

What’s the deal: US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China’s top foreign affairs official, Wang Yi, mutually agreed during a meeting in Beijing to set up a call between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The call will focus on stabilizing the increasingly fragile relationship between both countries, managing competition and tensions, reestablishing military-to-military communication, and addressing concerns both countries have.

Some US concerns: The call between Biden and Xi will likely touch on China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, particularly its harassment of Philippine vessels in disputed waters. These actions have drawn significant criticism from the United States in recent months, which has a mutual defense pact with the Philippines. This defense pact would require the United States to defend the Philippines if attacked.

Another significant concern for the United States is China’s growing relationship with Russia, particularly over the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite China saying it has no side in the war, the US has sanctioned multiple Chinese companies and individuals for allegedly supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex and war effort in Ukraine.

Some Chinese concerns: Based on previous criticism from China’s foreign ministry, they will also likely bring up what they perceive as violations of the “One-China policy,” US weapons sales to Taiwan, and China’s concerns that the United States is seeking to expand NATO into the Indo-pacific.

Last interaction: President Biden’s last interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping occurred during a summit in Woodside, California, in November 2023. The meeting focused on increasing communication between the two countries at the highest levels to manage competition and prevent conflict.