Friendly diplomacy in Biden-Xi meeting

Ngoại giao thân tình trong cuộc gặp giữa ông Biden và ông Tập - 1 — US President Joe Biden (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Photo: EPA).

When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at the Filoli estate in California on November 15, US President Joe Biden was waiting to greet him. After shaking hands, Biden pulled out his phone and showed the Chinese leader a photo of a man posing on the Golden Gate Bridge - the symbol of San Francisco.

Xi Jinping immediately smiled and said: "I know. That was me 38 years ago." The White House owner smiled and replied: "You haven't changed much."

The more than 4-hour meeting between the two leaders of the US and China began with a very familiar story. During the meeting, Mr. Biden even sent birthday wishes to the First Lady of China, Peng Liyuan (November 20).

At the end of the first part of the talks, the two leaders had lunch and then took a walk together in the grounds of the estate without the need for an interpreter.

At the end of the meeting, as Xi Jinping approached his Chinese-made Red Flag limousine to leave, Biden praised the car for its beauty and resemblance to the “Beast” used to transport the US President. Xi Jinping smiled and gestured for an assistant to show Biden the interior of the car.

Those were some of the details of personal diplomacy during the meeting between the two US and Chinese leaders.

Mr. Biden praised Mr. Xi's car (Video: Phoenix).

Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said Xi Jinping was projecting a friendly image. "But whether he can convince Americans that China is not a threat is another matter," Wu said.

The already tense US-China relationship has become even more strained after the US shot down a Chinese balloon earlier this year. Washington has also imposed a series of restrictions and sanctions on Chinese companies, preventing them from accessing US high technology due to national security concerns.

The talks on November 15 aimed to lay the foundation for cooperation between the two countries despite their differences. During the talks, the two sides reached a number of agreements, including resuming military-to-military contacts.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Mr. Biden emphasized: "He and I still have differences, but he is very straightforward." The White House owner said that the two leaders agreed to pick up the phone if the other called.

Rorry Daniels, executive director at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said it was a personal commitment to working together to resolve problems when they arise.

However, experts and officials on both sides also admit that the differences between the US and China cannot disappear overnight.

"Mr. Xi has repeatedly argued that the US is trying to contain China. This view is unlikely to change quickly," commented Stephen Olson, a scholar at the Hinrich Foundation.

According to Associate Professor Dylan Loh at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, the talks give both sides an opportunity to clarify their "red lines" with each other to move towards a less antagonistic and hostile relationship.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that the US and China can be partners instead of rivals and can cooperate in many areas.