Biden to meet China’s Xi Jinping at G20 amid strained relations

First in-person talks between the 2 leaders since Biden took workplace goal to ‘deepen traces of communication’, US says.

US President Joe Biden will meet Chinese language President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit subsequent week, the White Home has introduced, in what would be the first in-person talks between the 2 leaders since Biden took workplace in early 2021.

In a press release on Thursday, the White Home stated Biden would communicate with Xi on November 14 in Bali, Indonesia, about “efforts to keep up and deepen traces of communication” between the 2 international locations at a time of rising tensions.

The pair will even focus on efforts to “responsibly handle competitors” and the best way to “work collectively the place our pursuits align, particularly on transnational challenges that have an effect on the worldwide group”, the assertion learn.

The assembly comes amid growing frustration between the US and Chinese language governments over points similar to commerce coverage, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and China’s strategy to Taiwan.

The White Home labored with Chinese language officers for a number of weeks to arrange Monday’s talks, The Related Press information company reported.

Whereas Biden and Xi have held a number of digital conferences, the dialogue in Bali would be the first time they’ve spoken face-to-face since Biden turned president in January of final yr.

It additionally comes simply weeks after Xi secured an historic, third time period as basic secretary of the Chinese language Communist Celebration, cementing his place as one of many nation’s most influential leaders.

Shortly after successful his third time period, Xi stated in a letter that the US and China should “discover methods to get alongside within the new period”. Biden has additionally famous that whereas the US sees China as a competitor, “we’re making it clear that we don’t search battle.”

That dedication has been examined over a variety of points, together with what the US sees as China’s more and more assertive strategy in the direction of the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing views as a part of its territory, and US steps that goal to undermine China’s manufacturing of semiconductor chips.

Lately, the US additionally has criticised China’s human rights document, significantly because it considerations its Uighur Muslim minority within the western province of Xinjiang.

The United Nations has stated at the least a million Uighurs and different minorities are being held in a community of detention centres in what the UN human rights workplace stated in September might quantity to “crimes towards humanity”.

China has stated the measures are essential to counter “extremism” whereas rejecting worldwide criticism as “disinformation”.

Biden on Wednesday informed reporters that he meant to debate with Xi rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, in addition to commerce insurance policies and Beijing’s relationship with Russia, amongst different issues.

“What I wish to do with him after we speak is lay out what every of our crimson traces are and perceive what he believes to be within the essential nationwide pursuits of China, what I do know to be the essential pursuits of the USA,” Biden stated.

“And decide whether or not or not they battle with each other.”

A senior US administration official, talking on the situation of anonymity to debate the summit, sought to downplay expectations for the assembly, telling reporters on Thursday that there was no joint communique or deliverables anticipated from the sit-down.

Reasonably, the official stated, Biden aimed to construct a “ground for the connection”.