BEIJING/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – At the beginning of their first video conference, Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, greeted Joe Biden as an “old friend”. This expression is something that Biden often retorts to.

Laopengyou is a Chinese term that connotes fondness. This expression conveys a sense of familiarity, trust and familiarity. It was used by Xi (68) to express a common history. They met in August 2011 and had hours of conversation and travelled through Sichuan before they reached their highest offices.

Wang Huiyao is the president of Center for China and Globalization. He said that Xi’s use this expression was a sign of goodwill.

Former President Barack Obama’s top diplomat in Asia, Daniel Russel said that it was part and parcel of every leader’s search for the “narrative highest ground” during the opening.

After Biden had publicly denied that they were ‘friends’, Xi intentionally greeted Biden as a’my old buddy’. Russel explained that Biden, smiling with a toothy grin, reminded Xi of all the rules of the road and reminded China.

Shi Yinhong of Renmin University of China was a professor of international relationships and noted that Xi still used this term despite difficult circumstances.

When we call someone “an old friend”, we are referring to someone we have known for many years. Shi clarified that “an old friend doesn’t necessarily signify he’s still a true friend.”

Biden, given current diplomatic tensions may not be keen to be seen by U.S. ally and political rivals as too “friend” in light of the ongoing diplomatic tensions.

Biden was 78 when a reporter asked him if he could call Xi – an “old friend to an old friend”. He wanted access for World Health Organization investigators looking for COVID-19’s origins.

“Let us get this straight. Although we know one another well, it’s not like being old friends. “It’s pure business,” Biden stated at that time.

Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the White House was interviewed about this exchange ahead of Monday’s meeting.

“Well … She said, “Well…