The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping face-to-face and for the first time since becoming America’s president at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia on Monday.
Why it matters
The relationship between the United States and China has slumped to one of its lowest levels in many years; evident in the series of cautions and sanctions that the latter has imposed on the former, especially since Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
- Both countries are also coming off a political hurdle with Joe Biden having a successful run at the US midterm elections and the Chinese leader Xi Jinping securing a third consecutive term.
What they are saying
The White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, said in a statement: “The leaders will discuss efforts to maintain and deepen lines of communication,” as well as how to “responsibly manage competition and work together where our interests align, especially on transnational challenges”.
- A senior administration official said on Thursday that the US would re-echo its stance on Taiwan and human rights, North Korea’s recent missile launches, the war in Ukraine and climate change.
The big picture
Multiple reports have confirmed that although the White House isn’t anticipating any major agreements with China, President Biden believes “it is critical to build a floor for the relationship and ensure that there are rules of the road that bound our competition.” Biden had also stated earlier in the week that he is looking forward to the in-person meeting with Xi Jinping to understand his “priorities and intentions, and lay out what each of our red lines are.”