Biden says a meeting with Xi on sidelines of November APEC summit in San Francisco is a possibility

President Joe Biden has mentioned the possibility of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco next month. Although no formal meeting has been arranged as of now, President Biden acknowledged the potential for a face-to-face discussion with his Chinese counterpart.

The last interaction between President Biden and President Xi took place in November of the previous year during the Group of 20 summit held in Bali, Indonesia. White House officials have consistently expressed their desire for the two leaders to engage in talks, and efforts have been made to secure China’s agreement to such a meeting.

Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have been palpable over the past year. The Biden administration intercepted a Chinese spy balloon that crossed the continental United States earlier this year, and China was implicated in the hacking of emails belonging to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Additionally, the U.S. government has imposed restrictions on the export of advanced computer chips to China. These developments have strained bilateral relations.

The situation has been further complicated by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and China’s increased assertiveness in the Taiwan Strait. While Beijing has refrained from direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict, the U.S. government has publicly stated that it possesses intelligence suggesting China has considered providing military assistance to Moscow.

Despite these challenges, both sides have made efforts in recent months to manage their relationship. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, refrained from commenting on the status of a potential Biden-Xi meeting in San Francisco but highlighted ongoing communication between the two countries regarding bilateral engagement and exchange. Pengyu emphasized the need for China and the U.S. to work together, address obstacles, manage differences through concrete actions, and foster dialogue and cooperation in good faith.

Furthermore, several high-ranking officials from both nations have engaged in discussions. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the Mediterranean island of Malta last month. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, and climate envoy John Kerry have all traveled to Beijing in recent months to hold meetings with top Chinese officials. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is also scheduled to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to China in the upcoming week, indicating ongoing efforts to navigate the complex U.S.-China relationship.

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