WASHINGTON: The United States and China have taken steps towards facilitating a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Following a meeting between President Biden and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, the stage is set for potential diplomatic dialogue and collaboration. President Biden has extended an invitation to President Xi to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, scheduled for November. However, President Xi’s participation in the summit has not been confirmed yet.
During the talks in Washington, both sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining high-level diplomacy in order to improve bilateral relations. A statement released by the White House affirmed their joint commitment to work towards a meeting between the two leaders in San Francisco.
FM Wang Yi met with US President Joe Biden @POTUS at the White House today. Wang conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings to President Biden, and said that the purpose of this visit is to communicate with the US and effectively implement the important consensus reached at the… pic.twitter.com/44UIZD8e3h
— Liu Pengyu 刘鹏宇 (@SpoxCHNinUS) October 28, 2023
While the White House has left the official confirmation to Beijing, preparations are already underway for the potential meeting. President Biden emphasized the necessity for responsible management of competition and open communication in the U.S.-China relationship. He also stressed the importance of the two nations working together to address global challenges, particularly in the context of ongoing events such as the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In addition to President Biden and Foreign Minister Wang’s meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan were also present during the discussions. This meeting marks the latest in a series of high-level engagements between the United States and China.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed a desire to “stabilize U.S.-China relations” and reduce misunderstandings, as tensions have characterized their relationship in recent years. He highlighted China’s commitment to responding calmly to differences of opinion, emphasizing that right and wrong should not be determined by the strength of one’s arm or the volume of one’s voice.
U.S.-China relations have been strained due to competition for influence in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Beijing has also increased cooperation with Russia as part of its efforts to diminish U.S. dominance on the global stage.
One key point of contention has been Taiwan, which China claims as its own while it functions as a self-ruling democracy. China’s military exercises in response to actions by U.S. lawmakers have added to tensions.
President Biden has recently underscored the United States’ treaty obligations to the Philippines, expressing concern over alleged incidents involving Chinese vessels in disputed waters. While affirming his commitment to competing with China in accordance with international rules, Biden has clarified that his administration is not seeking conflict but rather a constructive approach to competition.
As the United States and China work towards a potential summit meeting, the global community watches closely to see how these discussions may impact the evolving dynamics of this crucial international relationship.
