Xi lands in the USA
SAN FRANCISCO: Chinese President Xi Jinping has landed in the United States for his first visit in six years with the aim to mend fences with America. His meeting with Joe Biden, scheduled for Wednesday morning at an undisclosed location in the San Francisco Bay Area, is anticipated to be a pivotal event.
Following the Biden meeting, Xi will participate in the annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
This face-to-face encounter between the leaders of the US and China, the first in a year, is regarded by US officials as an opportunity to ease tensions in what is perceived as the world’s most dangerous rivalry.
Xi greeted officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, upon arrival. Demonstrations both supporting and opposing his visit are expected in San Francisco.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing APEC ministers earlier, emphasized the US commitment to a region where economies have the freedom to choose their own path. Although China was not mentioned directly, Blinken’s statements echoed previous US rhetoric accusing China of bullying smaller Indo-Pacific countries and undermining the “rules-based” order.
The San Francisco meeting, occurring amid geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains, and a worsening climate crisis, will address economic issues. President Biden aims to improve US-China relations, emphasizing a desire to change the economic relationship positively. T
he talks will cover a range of topics, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, US support for Ukraine, and economic matters. Biden emphasized that the US does not seek complete economic separation from China but aims to enhance the economic relationship.
Xi, seeking foreign investment during APEC, is expected to dine with top US business executives.
For American businesses, this presents an opportunity to directly engage with China’s leader amid economic challenges and uncertainty.
Biden reassured regional countries that the US does not seek complete economic separation, addressing concerns about a potential superpower showdown.
Restoring military-to-military contacts severed by China in response to Pelosi’s Taiwan visit is a top US goal to prevent miscalculations.
Additionally, the US hopes for increased cooperation from Beijing in combating the production of the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl, a pressing issue in the United States and particularly in San Francisco.
Sino-US relations strained after the US ordered the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in February. The Biden administration has since engaged in efforts to rebuild communication and trust through visits and meetings with Chinese counterparts.
