Lush, private Northern California estate is site for Xi-Biden meeting

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The meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping is scheduled to take place at a picturesque estate nestled in Northern California. Filoli, originally constructed as a private residence in 1917 and subsequently designated as a National Trust for Historic Preservation site, will serve as the backdrop for their one-on-one discussions aimed at fostering better relations between the United States and China.

Situated approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco, Filoli’s location was revealed by three senior administration officials who requested anonymity due to security considerations. Bonnie Glaser, Managing Director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund, opined that the estate aligns with Xi’s expectations for a private meeting away from the main summit venue. It provides an environment conducive to an intimate and relaxed conversation between the two leaders, distinct from the multilateral Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit being held in San Francisco.

Observers of China’s political landscape have noted that Xi aims to project himself as an equal to President Biden and garner the respect befitting a U.S. president. Filoli, sprawling over 650 acres (2.6 square kilometers), boasts a Georgian revival-style mansion and a formal English Renaissance-style garden. While the mansion and grounds are typically open to the public, the estate is currently closed for three days for holiday decorations, as indicated on its website.

This serene and secluded setting allows both leaders to step away not only from the media spotlight but also from the various elements that may fuel conflicts. Jeremi Suri, a professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas at Austin, suggests that such a setting can facilitate trust-building and improved communication if the leaders establish a positive rapport, drawing parallels to the meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik in 1986.

San Francisco socialite William Bowers Bourn II, who named Filoli, derived the name from the initial letters of his personal credo: “Fight for a just cause. Love your Fellow Man. Live a Good Life.”

Notably, Filoli is available for private events, weddings, commercial filming, and photography, and its beautiful gardens even featured in Jennifer Lopez’s film “The Wedding Planner.”

This meeting location marks a significant moment in the diplomatic relations between the two superpowers, taking place in a serene and historically rich environment that has the potential to foster productive discussions and possibly pave the way for improved understanding between the United States and China.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Xi-Biden Summit

More about Xi-Biden Summit

• Filoli Estate Official Website
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit
• German Marshall Fund
• Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Reykjavik (1986)
• Xi Jinping
• Joe Biden
• San Francisco
• Jennifer Lopez’s “The Wedding Planner”