Washington

US President Joe Biden agreed to meet 'face-to-face' with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in near future, as decided during the fifth phone call between the two leaders on Thursday.

The phone call came amid heightened tensions between the geopolitical rivals with Beijing issuing warnings against the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's scheduled visit to Taiwan in August.

During the phone call, the two leaders held a detailed discussion of areas where the two countries can work together, with a particular focus on climate change and health security, as well as counternarcotics.

Biden underscored to President Xi the United States opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo by either side and commitment to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

On contrary, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Biden, not to 'play with fire' over Taiwan and asked the US to abide by the One China principle.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is considering a trip to Taiwan during the congressional recess in August that would make her the highest-ranking American politician since 1997 to visit the island.

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Even the US President cast doubt on Pelosi's trip to Taiwan. Biden said the US military believes it is not a good idea for Pelosi to travel to Taiwan as planned.