China’s Xi calls Biden to wish him a ‘speedy recovery’ from Covid
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping called U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday to wish the American leader a “speedy recovery” from Covid, according to state media.
Biden tested positive for Covid-19 and has “very mild symptoms,” the White House said Thursday. The U.S. embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment on the report of Xi’s call with Biden.
Xi expressed his “deepest sympathies” in the call, according to a CNBC translation of the Chinese state media report. The brief report did not mention whether the leaders discussed other topics.
On Wednesday, Biden told reporters at a briefing he expected to speak with Xi within 10 days, but did not specify reasons or topics for a call.
The two leaders last spoke in March, mostly about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China has refused to call the attack an invasion.