U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in their first face-to-face meeting in a year, convening outside of San Francisco for a pivotal summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. Against the backdrop of continued U.S.-China tensions, the leaders sought to increase high-level communication to address critical global challenges.
At the summit’s outset, President Biden emphasized the need to navigate the competitive landscape carefully, stating, “We have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. Critical global challenges we face, from climate change to counternarcotic to artificial intelligence, demand our joint efforts.”
Anticipated topics of discussion included curbing fentanyl flows into the U.S., the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and U.S. restrictions on Chinese access to high-end technology.
President Xi, in his opening remarks, highlighted the inevitability of cooperation between two major nations, saying, “For two large countries like China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed.”
Recent signals of goodwill have surfaced between the two nations, with commitments to cooperate on climate issues and the resumption of more direct flights between the U.S. and China. Additionally, Chinese commodity importers recently inked agreements to bulk purchase U.S. agricultural products, marking the first such deals since 2017.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has also expressed intent to address the unequal treatment of foreign businesses compared to domestic firms, addressing a longstanding business concern.
As the summit unfolds, there are speculations that the Chinese government might announce a commitment to resume purchases of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft, according to Bloomberg News. Xi’s arrival in the U.S. on Tuesday marked his first trip since 2017, and the summit holds significance as a platform to foster cooperation amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges.
This diplomatic encounter follows their last in-person meeting in Bali in November 2022, and it is particularly notable as President Biden seeks re-election while Xi solidifies his power with a third term as president. The world watches as the leaders navigate complex issues, balancing competition and cooperation on the global stage. Source – CNBC
