America rising anew, President Joe Biden to US Congress

US President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress as US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi applaud at the US Capitol. Pic/AFP

Declaring that "America is rising anew" under his leadership, President Joe Biden has told China that the US will maintain a "strong" military presence in the Indo-Pacific "not to start conflict, but to prevent one" as Beijing became more assertive in the strategically vital region.

Using his maiden address to the joint session of Congress on the eve of his 100th day in office to make a strong case for huge new investments and tax reforms to overhaul the US economy and rebuild the middle class, Biden said, "we have acted to restore the people's faith in our democracy to deliver."

In a historic moment, Vice President Kamala Harris - the first woman to hold the second highest office - and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both sat behind Biden during Wednesday night's prime time address. It was the first time two women appeared behind the president during a speech to Congress. After addressing Harris in his opening remarks as Madam Vice-President, Biden added: "No president has ever said those words from this podium. And it's about time."

In his 65-minute address, Biden spent the majority of his time to discuss his economic and infrastructure plans for the nation, his foreign policy vision for America's role in the world and the coronavirus pandemic and other health care issues.

"Life can knock us down. But in America, we never stay down. In America, we always get up. And today, that's what we're doing: America is rising anew," he said. "After 100 Days of rescue and renewal, America is ready for takeoff. We are working again. Dreaming again. Discovering again. Leading the world again. We have shown each other and the world: There is no quit in America," he said. He then went on to describe a two-hour conversation he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping upon taking office in January. "I told President Xi that we will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific just as we do with NATO in Europe, not to start conflict, but to prevent conflict," he said. Biden said that he also told Xi that "we welcome the competition - and that we are not looking for conflict."

"But I made absolutely clear that I will defend American interests across the board," he added.

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