Biden and Xi Navigate Diplomatic Waters in Face-to-Face Summit
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping engage in their first in-person meeting since 2022, addressing critical issues amid escalating tensions. The talks, held on the sidelines of the APEC summit, focus on restoring diplomatic channels and managing bilateral competition.
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US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping commenced their first in-person bilateral meeting on Wednesday, aiming to alleviate some of the strain characterizing US-Sino relations. The meeting takes place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, California, marking their first face-to-face discussion since November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia.
In brief remarks at the start of their closed-door meeting, Biden emphasized the importance of direct discussions, stating, "There is no substitute for face-to-face discussions. I've always found our discussions straightforward and frank, and I've always appreciated them." Xi reciprocated, acknowledging their long-standing acquaintance and the candid nature of their past meetings, despite occasional disagreements.
The meeting occurs against the backdrop of escalating competition defining the China-US relationship. Anticipated topics for discussion include tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea, economic and trade matters, high-level military dialogue, and the Gaza conflict.
Ahead of the meeting, Biden and his senior officials expressed the intention to restore military-to-military communications, which Beijing suspended in response to the February downing of a Chinese aircraft. China maintains it was a weather balloon off course during a transit across the continental US.
In his remarks following Biden, Xi emphasized the significance of the US-China relationship, calling it "the most important bilateral relationship in the world." He stressed the need for development that benefits both nations and contributes to human progress. Xi rejected the idea of turning their backs on each other, deeming it unrealistic and highlighting the adverse consequences of conflict and confrontation.
Xi's comments seemed to allude to Biden's emphasis on ensuring that the competition between the two nations "does not veer into conflict," a sentiment reiterated by Biden during the meeting. Acknowledging the need for responsible management of competition, Biden stated, "That's what the United States wants, and what we intend to do. I also believe it's what the world wants."
The meeting between Biden and Xi is the result of several rounds of talks at senior levels, paving the way for Xi's first visit to the United States since 2015.
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