WASHINGTON (Reuters] – U.S. President Joe Biden met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to discuss China’s actions in Tibet and Hong Kong. The White House released a statement after three hours of virtual discussions.

“President Biden raised concerns about the PRC’s practices in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as human rights more broadly,” the White House said.

He assured Xi, too, that the U.S. is committed to Taiwan’s ‘One China” policy. The White House stated that they also promised to collaborate on climate and energy issues.

Biden received Xi’s response telling him that China would need to “decisively take measures” if pro Taiwan independence forces violate a “redline,” Chinese media reported.

China asserts Taiwan is its sovereign. Beijing pledged to control Taiwan by force, if needed.

Both leaders stressed the importance of avoiding conflict in order to be a good role model for others.

Biden stated at the beginning of the negotiations that “it seems to me that our responsibility as leaders in China and the United States it to ensure our competition between these countries doesn’t veer into conflict.

“One simple and straightforward competitor.”

Xi spoke through an interpreter and said that China and America, as the two world’s largest economies, and permanent members of U.N. Security Council were in need of increased communication and cooperation.

According to Xinhua, the official news agency, it described the meeting “frank, constructive and substantive”