Biden: America is a Factor for Peace and Security in the Pacific Region

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, on Thursday described America as a factor for peace and security leading to growth in the Pacific region. Biden stated that during his meeting on Wednesday with Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, he reminded that the United States considers itself a Pacific nation and is therefore active in the Pacific region. The U.S. President, speaking to leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member countries in San Francisco, added, "Because of us, peace and security have been established in the region, allowing you to grow." Regarding the deep economic relations between the United States and member countries of this organization, he mentioned that over 60% of U.S. exports go to these countries. In another part of his speech, Biden referred to the improvement of the U.S. economy under his leadership and stated that the United States will continue its efforts to improve labor standards and adhere to commitments to unions. The U.S. President remarked that stable relations between the U.S. and China, as the two largest economies in the world, are good for the entire world. Biden and Xi met on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco. According to the Associated Press, the leaders of the U.S. and China had a candid and constructive dialogue on a wide range of bilateral and global issues, including potential areas of cooperation. At the beginning of the meeting, Biden stated that the goal of this meeting was to "better understand each other" and expressed his desire to ensure that competition between the U.S. and China does not turn into conflict. Xi also emphasized the necessity of convergence between the two countries and expanding cooperation to combat climate change. U.S.-China relations remain strained due to disagreements over issues such as Taiwan, trade, and human rights. John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator, stated in an exclusive interview with Voice of America on Tuesday before this meeting that Biden intends to put responsible relations on the agenda of this meeting from a stronger position. This was Xi Jinping's first visit to the U.S. in six years. Biden and Xi last met a year ago in Indonesia.