Without mentioning President-elect Donald Trump's name, Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to signal his concern that Trump's protectionist rhetoric on the campaign trail could send the U.S.-China relationship into another valley.

Donald Trump has made a tougher stance toward China central to his pitch on foreign policy, even as Joe Biden and Xi Jinping sought to lower tensions before the next president takes office.

The two leaders had what could be their final meeting in a long relationship, but often seemed to be speaking more to the president-elect than each other.