IRIA News

United States President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping concluded a four-hour summit with the U.S. president saying the discussions made “real progress.” Biden and Xi set the stage for enhanced China-U.S. collaboration in anti-fentanyl efforts, military dialogue, AI, and climate action.

Biden and Xi reached a series of agreements during high-stakes talks held to stabilize a turbulent relationship. Agreements include intergovernmental dialogues on AI, drug control, and military matters, with initiatives such as a dedicated drug control cooperation working group and the resumption of high-level military communication.

President Biden emphasized the importance of the newfound commitment to communication, stating that if either leader has a concern, they should “pick up the phone and call one another.” This development reflects a shift in the tone of the U.S.-China relationship, signaling a willingness to address disputes directly.

The heads of the world’s two largest economies met for over four hours on November 15, 2023, in Woodside, California. The meeting came on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in San Francisco which drew in more than 20,000 attendees and 22 world leaders.

United States President Joe Biden welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping in Woodside, California. The two leaders held a “candid and constructive discussion” on bilateral and global issues 🇺🇸🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/AE0nfJqsnh

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) November 16, 2023

Noting that his country’s relationship with the U.S. has “never been smooth sailing” over the last 50 years, Xi said that ”it is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation has terrible consequences for both sides.” He added that “The world at large is big enough for the two countries to succeed.”

Biden emphasized that the leaders had to ensure that competition should not veer into conflict. “I value our conversation because I think it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication,” the U.S. president said.

The working lunch meeting between Biden and Xi was also attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chief of Staff Cai Qi.

Key Points from Biden-Xi Meeting in California

• China to avoid hot and cold wars: Xi Jinping declared China’s desire for amicable relations with the United States, emphasizing a commitment to avoid both cold and hot wars and underscoring the aspiration for peaceful ties between the world’s two largest economies.
• Military talks: The resumption of military-to-military communication was seen as a crucial step towards improving ties.
• Exchange programs: Xi Jinping announced China’s readiness to host 50,000 young Americans in exchange and study programs over the next five years, improving educational and cultural ties.
• Drug trafficking: Both nations committed to combat drug trafficking and agreed to work together against fentanyl trafficking.
• Climate action: In the realm of climate change, the two leading carbon emitters pledged further measures focused on slowing methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, and supporting global initiatives to triple renewable energy by 2030.
• AI: The leaders affirmed the need to address the risks of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems and improve AI safety through U.S.-China government talks.

I value the conversation I had today with President Xi because I think it’s paramount that we understand each other clearly, leader to leader.

There are critical global challenges that demand our joint leadership. And today, we made real progress. pic.twitter.com/rljB0Ow7JA

— President Biden (@POTUS) November 15, 2023

Both sides agree to curb fentanyl production

The two leaders welcomed progress on a number of key issues including the resumption of bilateral cooperation to combat global illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking, including synthetic drugs like fentanyl, and the establishment of a working group for ongoing communication and law enforcement coordination on counternarcotics issues.

President Biden announced that the Chinese side has committed to taking action against companies in China producing chemical precursors for fentanyl. This development is significant amid the worsening epidemic of fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S.

Resumption of military dialogue and discussion on AI safety

The two leaders welcomed the resumption of high-level military-to-military communication, as well as the U.S.-China Defense Policy Coordination Talks and the U.S.-China Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings. Beijing and Washington would also resume phone conversations between theater commanders, according to the White House.

The military links were suspended after then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year. Relations further deteriorated after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean earlier this year.

“During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union always maintained military-to-military communication to avoid any accident or misreading of intent that could cause a war between nuclear powers,” according to Mick Mulroy, a former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. “This needs to also be the case now between China and the US,” he added.

The leaders affirmed the need to address the risks of advanced AI systems and improve AI safety through U.S.-China government talks.

China won’t fight cold war or hot war with anyone: Xi

In his speech addressing business executives at the APEC summit in San Francisco, Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear that China will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone.

“Whatever stage of development it may reach, China will never pursue hegemony or expansion, and will never impose its will on others. China does not seek spheres of influence, and will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone,” the Chinese president said. He reiterated that the world expects the United States and China to manage competition responsibly to prevent it from veering into conflict, confrontation, or a new Cold War.

Xi also recounted his meetings with Kissinger, Bill Gates, Schumer, and Newsom, saying the hope of the U.S.-China relationship lies in the people. Earlier, Biden showed the Chinese leader his photo in front of the Golden Gate Bridge to lighten up the mood. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying posted the moment on social media platform X.

Pointing to a photo in his phone with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, President Biden asked President Xi, “Do you know this young man?” “Oh yes,” said President Xi, “this was 38 years ago.”🌞 pic.twitter.com/r65Em6Z7oS

— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) November 16, 2023

Taiwan issue

President Xi Jinping emphasized China’s principled stance on the Taiwan issue, underscoring its significance as the most important and sensitive aspect of China-U.S. relations. Acknowledging positive statements from the U.S. during the Bali meeting, Xi urged tangible actions to uphold the commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” and cease arms sales to Taiwan. He asserted that China’s reunification is inevitable and “unstoppable”.

While President Biden reaffirmed the longstanding one China policy on Taiwan, he reiterated the U.S. opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, calling for the resolution of cross-strait differences through peaceful means. Stressing global interests in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Biden urged restraint in the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) military activities in the region.

Tech rivalry and export restrictions

President Xi Jinping highlighted that U.S. measures in export control, investment screening, and unilateral sanctions significantly undermine and “hurt China’s legitimate interests”. He asserted that such actions aim to impede China’s technological advancement, hindering high-quality development and the right to development for the Chinese people. He called for concrete actions to lift unilateral sanctions and create an equitable, fair, and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese businesses.

Meanwhile, President Biden raised concerns about the PRC’s “unfair trade practices, non-market economic approaches, and punitive actions against U.S. firms”. He said that the U.S. is committed to safeguarding national security through actions such as preventing advanced U.S. technologies from being used to undermine its own national security but do so without unduly limiting trade and investment.

Climate crisis

The Chinese and American leaders underscored the importance of working together to accelerate efforts to tackle the climate crisis in this critical decade.

They welcomed recent discussions between their special envoys for climate on common approaches toward the COP28 climate conference in UAE and agreed to accelerate concrete climate actions. U.S. and Chinese climate envoys John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua met this month in California in a bid to restart stalled cooperation.

The two leaders also agreed to increase passenger flights early next year, and restore full implementation of the U.S.-China air transportation agreement, to support exchanges between the two countries.