Biden had again rejected during the call the "strawman argument that raising questions about Rafah is equivalent to raising questions about defeating Hamas. Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven anywhere."
United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted that the negotiators have come to an "understanding" on the basic contours of a hostage deal to release hostages held by the Hamas terror group in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, as reported by CNN.
The planned meeting on the sidelines of the security conference (February 16-18) is part of efforts to increase high-level engagements after months of heightened tensions over issues ranging from a suspected Chinese spy balloon and Taiwan to trade restrictions, according to Kyodo.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday departed for a four-nation visit to the Middle East as part of continuing diplomatic efforts related to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Washington and Beijing separately announced late Saturday that Sullivan and China's top diplomat Wang, who is also a Chinese Communist Party politburo member and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, had met in Bangkok on Friday and Saturday.
The United States has announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in response to their continuing threats and attacks.
As per the official statement, the designation will take effect 30 days from now and allow the US to ensure robust humanitarian carve-outs are in place so its action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jake Sullivan said, "We have also worked with ... in the international response to new aggression in the Middle East, in the Red Sea reckless attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles has t