US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss enhancing communication and managing competition when they meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit this week, the White House said on November 13.
According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden believes there is no alternative to direct diplomacy to resolve the complex relationship between the US and China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. (Photo: Reuters)
“We anticipate that the leaders will discuss some of the most fundamental elements of the US-China bilateral relationship, including the continued importance of enhancing open lines of communication and managing competition responsibly so that the relationship does not spiral into conflict,” Sullivan said.
“The way we achieve that is through diplomacy. That’s how we clarify differences and avoid risks,” Mr. Sullivan added.
The US national security adviser said Washington expected concrete results from the meeting and hoped to see progress in resetting military ties with China as well as in combating the fentanyl trade that has become a scourge in the US.
China cut off military contacts with the US last year after then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. The strained relationship worsened when the US shot down a spy balloon in February.
Mr Sullivan said communication between the two militaries was a way to ensure competition did not lead to conflict and that China had been “constructive” on the issue in dialogue ahead of the summit.
The meeting is also expected to cover global issues ranging from the Israel-Hamas war to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, North Korea's relations with Russia, Taiwan, human rights, artificial intelligence and "fair" economic and trade relations.
According to Mr. Sullivan, President Biden will promote stability throughout the Middle East, while arguing that Beijing should share the interest in de-escalation there. Mr. Biden will also present an economic vision for the region, emphasizing that "the United States will be an engine for inclusive, sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific."
Leaders of the 21-member APEC forum will gather in San Francisco from November 15 to 17. The face-to-face meeting in San Francisco on November 15 will be the first between Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi Jinping in a year, and comes amid a diplomatic push by the United States and China to contain tensions between the two sides.
Kong Anh (Source: Reuters)
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