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Added on the 09/02/2017 17:26:00 - Copyright : AFP EN
Hong Kong (CNN) As United States President-elect Joe Biden faces an ugly, potentially contested transition, foreign policy may be the last thing on his mind. But in capitals around the world, foreign leaders are already clamoring for his attention, hoping to reset relationships and restore norms that shifted under President Donald Trump. Nowhere will there be greater opportunity for a shift than in the US-China relationship, which has deteriorated to historic lows during Trump's term in office. Over the past four years, both sides have slapped the other with trade tariffs, restricted access for tech companies, journalists and diplomats, shuttered consulates, and squared off militarily in the South China Sea.
While President Donald Trump busies himself with his apoplectic rejection of Joe Biden as president-elect, world leaders have swiftly moved on. In a sign of Biden's legitimacy, leaders of major democracies have stepped up to congratulate the President-elect Joe Biden in recent days. Doubtless salt to his wound, Trump's favorite network--Fox News--and media outlets across the board have also declared Biden the projected winner of the election. Business Insider reports that as a whole, EU leaders and even Israel and Turkey have congratulated Biden. Only Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Xing Ping, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro have yet to join in.
Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves Vietnam after a two-day state visit to the neighbouring communist country. The trip was Xi's first to Vietnam in six years, and the two nations committed to deeper ties and signed more than 30 agreements, including a pledge to develop rail links between Vietnam and China. IMAGES
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a ceremony commemorating Martyrs' Day ahead of National day to mark the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the Tiananmen Square. IMAGES
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva receives an official welcome from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a ceremony in Beijing, at the start of a state visit. IMAGES
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. IMAGES