On Wednesday, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met in California and greeted each other with handshakes and smiles. They engaged in direct discussions with the goal of improving the relationship between the United States and China.
The president of the United States began his speech by stating that the strained relations between the two nations should not escalate into a conflict.
The leader of China stated that the superpowers cannot afford to turn away from each other. He believes that there is enough space on Earth for both countries to thrive and that the success of one is beneficial for the other.
Xi referred to the relationship between the US and China as the most crucial partnership globally. He acknowledged the weighty obligations he and Biden hold for their respective nations, the global community, and future generations.
The speaker stated that it is not feasible for China and the United States, two major nations, to reject each other. Trying to change the other side is not practical, and engaging in conflict and opposition would have negative consequences for both sides.
The meeting between the two leaders was later characterized by the White House as “honest and productive”. They also stated that they covered various matters pertaining to both domestic and international affairs and shared their perspectives on points of disagreement.
This was the initial in-person meeting between the two leaders in a year. It occurred shortly after both nations issued a combined statement on climate, with additional agreements anticipated at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) conference in San Francisco.
Xi and Biden had a meeting following their nations’ commitment to collaborate more closely in tackling global warming, acknowledging the urgent issue of climate change as “one of the most pressing challenges of our era”.
The statement increases optimism that the two countries can repair their relationship after a long period of turmoil caused by disagreements over trade, human rights, and the status of Taiwan.
Following negotiations on climate change in the United States, a joint declaration was issued vowing to ensure the success of the upcoming UN climate summit in Dubai. The parties also reaffirmed their commitment to the goals outlined in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which aim to limit global warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts to cap the increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The statement stated that both the United States and China acknowledge the impact of the climate crisis on countries globally. They have agreed to collaborate in order to confront this significant challenge for both current and future generations.
The meeting between Xi and Biden has been described by US officials as a chance to ease tensions in the perceived most hazardous competition in the world.
This follows a string of deals designed to establish a minimum level for their relationship. Along with the recent climate agreement announced on Tuesday, China and the US are anticipated to come to an agreement regarding regulating the distribution of fentanyl from China to the US.
The United States also aims to resume military discussions, which have been mostly halted since Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, visited Taiwan last year.
As the Taipei elections in January approach, cross-strait relations are likely to face tension, making Taiwan a key topic of discussion in the Xi-Biden talks. China is concerned about the perceived shift in the Biden administration towards greater backing for Taiwan, which China considers to be a part of its territory.
Prior to the summit, Chinese state media has shifted to a more friendly attitude towards the US. The Communist party’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, stated in its international edition: “The Chinese people will always remember an old friend, and this is a significant message we wish to convey to the American people.” The typically aggressive Global Times newspaper urged for cooperation between the two nations.
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One significant aspect highlighted in the climate statement was the agreement for both nations to adhere to “economy-wide” nationally determined contributions (NDCs) for all greenhouse gases, not limited to just CO2.2
China has previously opposed the concept of defining the specific sectors of the economy that would be included in its climate commitments.
Li Shuo, the newly appointed head of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, stated that using the term “economy-wide” in NDCs suggests a strict structure that will improve the clarity of China’s emissions, which is a goal the US has been advocating for.
In an effort to revive cooperation, the climate representatives from the US and China, John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua, convened at California’s Sunnylands resort. It is widely acknowledged that meeting the goals set by the Paris Agreement will demand a significant collaborative endeavor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next ten years.
On Tuesday, Xi made his first trip to the US in six years. He greeted officials from the top of an Air China plane using a passenger staircase, before joining US officials on the San Francisco tarmac. These officials included Janet Yellen, the treasury secretary, and Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China.
After that, he entered his Chinese Hongqi, also known as a red flag, limousine and left the airport for the city. There are anticipated demonstrations both in favor of and against his visit.
Biden’s objective in his discussions with Xi is to enhance the partnership with China following a period of tense relations. He plans to reestablish regular communication between the two dominant nations, including military connections. According to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, Biden and Xi will also address the Israel-Hamas dispute in Gaza and US initiatives to assist Ukraine.
Speaking in the hours before Xi’s arrival, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, addressed ministers of the 21-member Apec and stressed that the US believed in “a region where economies are free to choose their own path … where goods, ideas, people flow lawfully and freely”.
Blinken’s comments did not reference China specifically, but his words mirrored the language used by the US in recent years. The US has accused Beijing of intimidating smaller countries in the Indo-Pacific region and attempting to disrupt the established “rules-based” system, according to Washington and its allies.
Katherine Tai, the US trade representative who, along with Blinken, commenced the Apec ministerial session, expressed that the meeting in San Francisco took place during a period of significant unpredictability and obstacles for the region. She acknowledged the growing geopolitical tensions, vulnerable supply chains, and deteriorating climate crisis.
The United States, according to Biden, does not intend to separate from China, but rather hopes to improve the economic relationship. In light of increasing economic and military competition between the two countries, his administration has made efforts to reduce risk in certain critical US supply chains that are dependent on China.
However, the US has made efforts to reassure countries in the area, such as China, that it is not aiming for complete economic detachment. This idea has raised worries among the US’s allies and partners about a potential clash between superpowers that could disrupt the global economy.
Hundreds of individuals, primarily in support of China, gathered outside the hotel where the Chinese delegation was staying prior to Xi’s arrival in the United States. Over the past few weeks, organizations representing the Chinese diaspora and alumni groups of Chinese universities have been seeking members to participate in welcoming Xi’s visit.
Bigger demonstrations are anticipated to take place near the summit location on Wednesday, involving rights organizations that are critical of Xi’s policies towards Tibet, Hong Kong, and Uyghur Muslims.
Reporting was contributed by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Source: theguardian.com
