President Biden is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. This meeting, scheduled for Saturday, will mark the third in-person meeting between the two leaders since Biden took office. The previous meeting took place one year ago in Woodside, California.
The meeting comes at a crucial time as Biden aims to stabilize the Indo-Pacific region and navigate the complex competition with China. With President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration looming, the meeting is seen as an opportunity to address key issues and set the tone for future relations between the two countries.
Senior administration officials have indicated that this meeting is likely to be Biden’s last with Xi as president. The discussions are expected to cover a range of topics, including military communications, counternarcotics efforts, and artificial intelligence collaboration between the U.S. and China over the past four years.
One of the key points of discussion is likely to be Russia, as Xi’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to evolve. Biden is expected to address the growing ties between China and Russia and their implications for global stability and security.
In addition to bilateral issues, the meeting is also expected to touch on broader regional and global concerns. Biden’s administration has been closely monitoring developments in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea and its growing influence in the region.
The meeting with Xi comes at a time of transition in U.S. foreign policy, as the Biden administration prepares to hand over power to the incoming Trump administration. There are indications that Trump may adopt a more confrontational approach towards China, with the potential appointment of China hawks like Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state.
As Biden prepares to leave for Peru for the APEC summit, the meeting with Xi is seen as a critical opportunity to assess the state of U.S.-China relations and lay the groundwork for future cooperation and collaboration. The discussions are expected to be frank and candid, with both leaders expressing their respective priorities and concerns.
Overall, the meeting between Biden and Xi at the APEC summit is viewed as an important step in shaping the future of U.S.-China relations and setting the tone for the next phase of bilateral engagement. Both leaders are expected to emphasize the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation in addressing shared challenges and promoting mutual interests.
