Calculated to the millimeter: this was the secret negotiations for a meeting between Biden and Xi

At the meeting between the presidents of the United States and China, Joe Biden and Xi Jinpingthere is no detail that has been left to improvisation.

For months, both parties carefully negotiated every aspect, from the angle at which Xi was going to be filmed to the view from the window of his vehicle as he drove through the streets of San Francisco, sources familiar with the planning of the event told EFE.

Even the location of the meeting, the first between the two leaders in a year, was kept secret until just hours before it took place. For days, the White House had limited itself to saying that it was a place in the San Francisco Bay, a large area that includes several urban areas.

The location selected for the face to face was the country mansion “Filoli”, located about 40 kilometers from San Francisco and recognized for being one of the settings of the series ‘Dynasty’, marked by the competition between millionaire clans. Carrington and Colby for control of the global oil sector.

The mansion was chosen for its discretion: it is surrounded by approximately six hectares of gardens inspired by the English Renaissance and these, in turn, are located on a plot of land of another 260 hectares, so privacy is assured.

In this way, the two parties guaranteed that Biden and Xi could speak calmly, without even having to see the protesters who have emerged in recent days on the streets of San Francisco with slogans in defense of human rights in China. , but also with other claims in favor of the defense of the environment or against the war in Gaza.

The Chinese side was especially demanding in its requirements so that Xi would not have to see these protests even when he traveled by car through San Francisco, the aforementioned sources familiar with the planning of the event told EFE.

Instead of protesters, Xi will likely only see from his vehicle Chinese flags that appeared this Wednesday morning hanging on the fences surrounding the Moscone convention center, scene of the high-level week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in San Francisco, which will conclude on Friday.

The meeting, in fact, could have been held in that convention center, where some ministers from the 21 APEC economies have already met this week.

However, the insipid rooms of the venue were not enough for a meeting of these characteristics, in which both leaders seek to reinforce their image at a domestic and international level, demonstrating to the world that they can see themselves face to face with one of their greatest opponents.

All aspects of the summit were the subject of debate, from the location of the meeting to the agenda, including the menu of the working lunch that the two leaders would share.

The White House has not revealed any details about the food, and when asked about it this Wednesday, spokesman John Kirby responded with some sarcasm: “I don’t even know what I’m going to eat, I don’t have that many details”.

Biden and Xi have a long personal relationship, having met when they served as vice presidents of their respective countries.

In 2011, when Xi seemed destined to become China’s next leader, Biden traveled to the Asian country to meet him, the two shared several dinners in different places in China and together they visited an institute affected by an earthquake in 2008.

Xi recalled that visit this Wednesday in remarks at the beginning of the meeting and said: “I still remember our interactions from then very vividly and they always provoke many reflections.”.