Washington - On Friday, American officials announced that the United States and China have reached an agreement to collaborate in arranging a meeting between the leaders of both countries next month.
This decision came after President Joe Biden held discussions with China's top diplomat at the White House. President Biden has extended an invitation to Xi Jinping for a meeting in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November. The relationship between the two nations has been strained, and Xi has yet to confirm his attendance. Following talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and senior US officials in Washington, the White House stated that both countries have committed to maintaining "high-level diplomacy" to improve their relations.
The White House's official statement indicated that both sides have "reconfirmed" their joint efforts to arrange a meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November. A senior administration official noted that it is now up to Beijing to confirm Xi's attendance, but preparations are being made for such a meeting. During the discussions with Wang, President Biden emphasized the importance of responsibly managing competition in the relationship and maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and China, as per the White House.
The meeting between the Chinese foreign minister and President Biden had been anticipated after Secretary of State Blinken met with Xi in Beijing in June, although it had not been formally confirmed. Wang, after his meeting with Blinken, expressed his desire to stabilize US-China relations and reduce misunderstandings after years of tension. He acknowledged that differences will persist but stated that China would respond calmly, emphasizing that right and wrong should not be determined solely by strength or volume.
President Biden and President Xi have not had contact since their meeting in Bali in November 2022. Tensions have persisted for years between the world's two largest economies as they compete for influence in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere, while China strengthens its collaboration with Russia to diminish US dominance. Disputes over Taiwan, a self-governing democracy claimed by Beijing, have particularly heightened tensions. In the past year, Taiwan has conducted significant military exercises in response to actions by US lawmakers. The United States and China have also exchanged criticisms regarding the Middle East conflict, where Biden has been a prominent supporter of Israel.
US officials have frequently mentioned the establishment of "guardrails" with China to prevent worst-case scenarios and have made unsuccessful attempts to restore communication between the two militaries. On Wednesday, President Biden cautioned China regarding US treaty obligations to the Philippines, which claimed that Chinese vessels intentionally collided with Manila's boats in disputed waters, a claim disputed by Beijing. During an event with Australia's prime minister, a key ally in the Asia-Pacific region, President Biden pledged to compete with China according to international rules in various aspects, such as the economy and politics, but emphasized that he is not seeking conflict.