Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping shook hands in California on Wednesday and advocated reducing tensions between the United States and China in their first meeting in a year.
A smiling Biden greeted Xi after the Chinese leader stepped out of a black limousine at the opulent Filoli Garden in California, less than 50 km from San Francisco.
The conversation, which takes place on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), is an attempt to moderate the tone of both powers on issues such as Taiwan, sanctions and trade exchange.
Biden, flanked by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and State Secretary Antony Blinken, took the floor first and spoke to the media for a few minutes.
“Key members of our team had important discussions” since the last meeting between both leaders, which was held in November 2022, said the American host.
“Mr. President, we have known each other for a long time. We have not always agreed (…) but our meetings have always been frank and direct”.
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Is “It is essential that we truly understand each other, from leader to leader”Biden added.
Immediately, the Chinese president, who listened to his counterpart through translation, said that “turning your back is not an option”.
“Planet Earth is big enough for both countries to succeed”.
“As long as you respect each other and coexist peacefully, you will be fully capable of overcoming your differences.Xi added.
“You and I are at the forefront of China-US relations (…) I look forward to having an in-depth exchange”.
Biden thanked him and the extensive closed-door meeting began, which will include a working lunch.
The US president will hold a solo press conference at 4:15 p.m. (0015 GMT) to announce the results of the summit, the White House reported.
“Real problems”
On the eve of the long-awaited meeting, Biden pointed out that China has “real problems.”
“President Xi is another example of how the reestablishment of American leadership in the world is taking hold. They have real problems“Biden said without further detail during a fundraising event hours before the meeting.
Hours earlier he stated that the United States does not “to separate from China“, but of “change the relationship for the better”.
He said he wanted to “return to a normal rhythm of correspondence, being able to answer the phone and talk if there is a crisis”.
China has stated that Xi and Biden will discuss “world peace and development“, and added that no “I was afraid of the competition”.
From Moscow, the Kremlin considered this Wednesday that it was “important” this meeting between Biden and Xi.
“Every meeting between representatives of the two largest economies on the planet is important for everyone”said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
AI and fentanyl
After the last meeting between Biden and Xi, relations went through moments of tension, especially at the beginning of the year when the United States shot down an alleged spy balloon of Chinese origin.
But in recent months, Beijing and Washington have opted for high-level diplomacy, which led to the announcement, less than a week before the summit, of Xi’s visit.
The meeting has been carefully choreographed to avoid misunderstandings and is taking place under strict security measures.
Before the start of the meeting, representatives of the two countries announced the launch of a joint working group on climate change to strengthen their coordination in “one of the greatest challenges of our time”.
The most likely formal outcome is the reestablishment of the hotline between the militaries of both countries, which Beijing cut after then-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan in 2022.
Biden is expected to warn China not to interfere in the elections to be held in two months in Taiwan, the self-proclaimed democracy over which Beijing claims sovereignty and which it does not rule out taking by force.
A rapprochement between Beijing and Washington could benefit armed conflicts, such as that between Israel and Hamas.
There is speculation that an agreement to limit the use of artificial intelligence in nuclear weapons systems is on the table.
Possible cooperation could also be discussed to limit Chinese exports of ingredients for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has caused a high number of deaths in American cities such as San Francisco.
The issue must be addressed in bilateral meetings that the leaders will have separately with the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The APEC summit, which brings together the leaders of the 21 economies of the Pacific bloc, runs until Friday in San Francisco.
Source: Gestion
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