Biden and Xi Jinping meet: First details
Photo: Chinese Leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden (Getty Images)
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, met with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, reports CNN.
Biden and Xi Jinping warmly greeted each other near the mansion located south of San Francisco. A red carpet was laid out for the leaders, with Marines and flags of the two nations standing along it.
BREAKING: Biden and his old friend Xi Jinping are back together at last pic.twitter.com/rNjg6hdE3U
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 15, 2023
Biden and Xi Jinping declined to answer journalists' questions before the meeting.
The White House showcased the beginning of negotiations between the two delegations led by the U.S. President and the Chinese leader. At the start of the talks, they exchanged greetings and opening statements. Following this, a closed-door meeting commenced.
What is known about their meeting
It should be noted that Biden and Xi Jinping last met at the G20 summit in Indonesia in November 2022. At that time, it was their first talks since Biden became the President of the United States.
At the same time, this is the first visit of the Chinese leader to the U.S. in six years. Xi Jinping last visited the States when Donald Trump was the president.
A number of experts are inclined to think that this meeting is necessary to reduce the dangerous rivalry between the two countries.
In general, the leaders will address global issues, including the conflict in the Middle East, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korea's connection with Russia, Taiwan, human rights, artificial intelligence, as well as trade and economic relations.
Biden has previously stated that his goal in the negotiations will be to improve relations with China amid tensions that arose after the visit of then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan when China cut off contacts with the U.S. through the military line.
Furthermore, relations escalated even more at the beginning of 2023 after the scandal with a Chinese air balloon in U.S. airspace.
Now the two world leaders must use the meeting to ease tensions.
Why is this important for Ukraine
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby announced that Biden and Xi Jinping will also discuss the issue of the war in Ukraine with Russian aggressors.
In the White House, it is believed that China could play a certain role if it helped the U.S. support Ukraine and promote President Volodymyr Zelensky's position on a just peace in Ukraine.
Although loud statements from the two world leaders are not expected, some analysts suggest that Biden may turn to Xi Jinping to influence North Korea, which has been conducting ballistic missile tests and supplying ammunition to Russia for the war in Ukraine.
It is not excluded that against the backdrop of events in Ukraine, China and the U.S. may initiate a conversation about mutual nuclear guarantees in the face of Russia's threats to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine.
