On Saturday, President Joe Biden will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Conference in San Francisco Bay Area. This is expected to be an intense diplomatic event, with both leaders looking to strengthen their respective nations’ ties in the region.
The meeting between Biden and Xi will be the first between the two leaders since Biden took office in January 2021. It will be a major moment for Biden to promote US interests and build relations with the world’s second largest economy. Biden’s decision to meet with Xi is seen as a sign of respect to Beijing, showcasing that the US wants to work with China to solve complex global issues and promote a mutually beneficial relationship.
The meeting will also serve as an opportunity for Biden to publicly affirm his commitment to supporting Asian-American communities in America. This would be fitting, given that the APEC Conference itself is focused on economic integration and cooperation between Pacific Rim countries. At the same time, Biden will be tasked with expressing concerns over other issues, such as human rights.
The meeting between Biden and Xi will be held at Bay Area’s Fairmount Hotel. After their individual talks, both leaders are expected to deliver short speeches on the future of American-Chinese cooperation. The media will likely be interested to see if Biden and Xi’s words echo the calls of past leaders, such as Henry Kissinger, to build a “wall of friendship” between the two nations.
Regardless of the outcome, the meeting between Biden and Xi will certainly be one to watch. This yet another sign that the 21st century will likely usher in an era of increased tensions and cooperation between the United States and China. It remains to be seen how this meeting will shape the global balance of power.