The leaders of the US and China have reached an agreement to arrange a meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping following a meeting between the US president and China’s foreign minister on Friday.
In November, Biden extended an invitation to Xi for the Apec summit in San Francisco. The confirmation of the Chinese president’s attendance is still pending.
The White House announced that Biden met with Wang Yi and other top US officials in Washington. Both nations have committed to continuing “high-level diplomacy” in order to improve their relationship.
The White House released a statement stating that the two sides have confirmed their commitment to collaborating towards a meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November.
A high-ranking member of the administration stated that the White House is relying on Beijing to verify Xi’s attendance, but they are getting ready for the meeting regardless.
According to the White House, Biden previously conveyed to Wang that it is necessary for Washington and Beijing to handle their competition in the relationship with responsibility and keep communication channels open.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East, Biden emphasized the need for collaboration between the US and China in tackling global issues.
Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, were in attendance. Wang visited Washington for two days and also had separate meetings with Blinken and Sullivan. This is the most recent in a series of important communications between the United States and China.
After their meeting on Thursday, Wang expressed his desire to improve and maintain the relationship between the US and China, and to diminish any misunderstandings that have arisen from years of tension. He stated that when disagreements arise, China will respond calmly, believing that the right and wrong should not be determined by strength or volume.
The relationship between the two leading global economies has been strained for an extended period of time. They are competing for power and authority in the Asia-Pacific area and other regions, and China is increasing collaboration with Russia with the aim of lessening US control.
The relationship between Taiwan and China has been tense, as China claims control over the self-governing democracy. Recently, China has conducted large-scale military drills in reaction to actions taken by American politicians.
On Wednesday, President Biden reminded China of the United States’ commitment to uphold a treaty with the Philippines. The Philippines claims that Chinese ships intentionally collided with their boats in waters that are subject to dispute, but China disputes this account.
Addressing the audience with the Australian prime minister, a crucial partner in the Asia-Pacific region, Biden pledged to engage in competition with China “in accordance with international regulations – in the fields of economy, politics, and other areas. However, I am not seeking confrontation.”
With Agence France-Presse
Source: theguardian.com
