United States President Joe Biden on Monday said that he hoped to have a candid conversation about China‘s human rights and security issues during a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. 

The two leaders engaged in their most extensive talks since Biden took office in January during the meeting meant to ease tensions between the two global superpowers. 

“Maybe I should start more formally, although you and I have never been that formal with one another,” Reuters quoted Biden as saying during the meeting with Xi.

Biden is also expected to urge China to abide by international rules on commerce and security. 

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The US President said he hoped to prevent the competition between the two countries from veering into “open conflict” and urged the two leaders should install some “common sense” guardrails. 

“It seems to be our responsibility as the leaders of China and the United States to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended, rather than simple, straightforward competition,” Biden said at the start of the meeting. 

Meanwhile, Xi said he was very happy to see Biden, calling him an “old friend” and urged the two sides to increase communication in order to tackle the issues they face. 

The meeting, initiated by Biden, began shortly after 7:45 PM Eastern Time on Monday.  It is meant to ease tensions between the two global superpowers as well as set the tone for future relations between Washington and Bejing. 

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The early part of the meeting was observed by a group of reporters who joined Biden in the West Wing Conference Room before the two leaders spoke privately. The private meeting between Xi and Biden is expected to stretch for hours, according to US officials, as both sides hope the talks will make the ties less strenous.

Among a number of other issues, US and China do not agree on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade and competition rules, China’s expanding nuclear arsenal and its increased pressure on Taiwan.