Chinese Leader in Meeting with Biden: We Are Ready to Cooperate with the New U.S. Government

U.S. President Joe Biden, in his latest official meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue between the two countries to prevent the 'competition' from escalating into 'conflict.' The meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and China took place on Saturday evening, November 26, in Lima, Peru, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. According to a text released by the White House of the public statements made by the two presidents, Biden referred to the long history of dialogue between the two sides, stating that such discussions 'prevent miscalculations and ensure that competition between the two countries does not drift toward conflict.' The U.S. President added that over the past four years, 'we have not always agreed, but our discussions have always been honest and straightforward.' According to the text released by the White House, Xi Jinping also described the past four years of relations between the two countries as 'full of ups and downs' but 'stable' and 'characterized by fruitful dialogues and cooperation.' After their public statements, the leaders held non-public discussions, during which, according to Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, Biden raised his concerns about China's 'unfair' economic practices and issues related to the South China Sea. The meeting occurred about two months before Donald Trump's presidency, during which he promised to impose strict tariffs on Chinese goods. Xi Jinping emphasized that China's goal of maintaining stable, healthy, and sustainable relations with the United States 'remains unchanged.' He added, without naming Trump, that China is ready to cooperate with the new U.S. government 'to maintain communications, expand cooperation, and manage differences.' The Chinese leader also stressed that Beijing's position 'to firmly protect China's sovereignty, security, and development interests' remains unchanged. Trump, during his campaign, stated that under the 'America First' policy, he would impose tariffs of 60% on imported goods from China, a promise that drew criticism and opposition from Beijing. The President-elect has also selected figures for his cabinet who are reported to be strong critics of China, including Marco Rubio as a proposed Secretary of State and Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor. According to the Associated Press, many American companies, including 'Nike' and 'Warby Parker,' have begun to seek alternative sources instead of China, and a company like 'Steve Madden' has stated it will reduce its imports from China by 45% next year. Jake Sullivan has stated that Biden's officials will communicate this issue to Trump's team, noting that the most significant challenge for their foreign policy will likely be managing intense competition with Beijing. More details about the Biden-Xi meeting have not been reported; it was previously mentioned that Biden would ask his Chinese counterpart to dissuade North Korea from military cooperation with Moscow and support for Russia's war against Ukraine. U.S.-China relations have faced serious challenges in recent years, including recent revelations by the FBI regarding efforts by Beijing to hack U.S. telecommunications networks. Additionally, U.S. intelligence estimates indicate that China has increased its military support for Moscow and has been selling various components and technologies needed by Russia to produce weapons for the war against Ukraine. Last year, the sighting of a Chinese spy balloon over the United States, which was shot down on Biden's orders, was among the challenges between the two countries.