The long-anticipated meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally took place in San Francisco, marking their first face-to-face encounter in a year. As tensions between the two countries continue to simmer, the leaders convened on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference to discuss critical global challenges and the need for joint efforts.
Both leaders acknowledged the importance of maintaining competition without allowing it to escalate into conflict. President Biden emphasized the need to address various issues, such as climate change, counternarcotics, and artificial intelligence, through collaborative means. President Xi echoed this sentiment, noting that China and the United States must not turn their backs on each other and that the planet is vast enough for both countries to succeed.
In recent days, signs of goodwill between the two nations have begun to emerge. Hours before the summit, the U.S. and China reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating on climate change issues. Additionally, the resumption of more direct flights between the two countries symbolizes a step towards renewed engagement. Furthermore, Chinese commodity importers signed agreements to buy U.S. agricultural products in bulk, indicating a potential thaw in trade relations. The Chinese government also acknowledged the unequal treatment of foreign businesses in China compared to domestic firms, highlighting a willingness to address longstanding complaints.
The summit presents an opportunity for the Chinese government to make significant announcements. Speculation suggests that China may declare its commitment to resuming purchases of Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft, signifying a significant boost to the aerospace industry. President Xi’s visit to the U.S. is his first since 2017 when he met with former President Donald Trump. For President Biden, this summit represents an opportunity to solidify his foreign policy agenda ahead of his bid for re-election next year.
The Biden-Xi summit is a critical moment in U.S.-China relations, as both leaders seek to strike a delicate balance between competition and cooperation. The acknowledgement of shared global challenges is a positive step, and the recent indications of goodwill demonstrate a willingness to find common ground. The outcomes of this meeting will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of the bilateral relationship, particularly in realms such as trade, climate change, and technological cooperation. As the world closely watches, there is hope that this summit can pave the way for constructive dialogue and increased cooperation between the two superpowers.