Meeting in San Francisco; Leaders of the US and China Discuss Cooperation and Resolving Disputes

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a significant four-hour meeting on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, resulting in multiple agreements on strategic issues. According to the Associated Press, the leaders of the US and China engaged in a candid and constructive dialogue on a wide range of bilateral and global topics, including potential areas of cooperation. Biden identified the resolution of the cases of American detainees in China as a remaining priority and emphasized competition between the US and China over confrontation, calling for responsible management to prevent conflict or a new Cold War. Human rights concerns in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as China's one-China policy regarding Taiwan, were also central topics of Biden and Xi's discussions. Biden reiterated support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and for Israel's defense. Regarding the escalating crisis in the Middle East, Biden urged China to pressure Iran to avoid actions that could be seen as provocative. Chinese officials informed their American counterparts that they had discussed regional risks with Iran. The US and Chinese leaders agreed that these interactions and communications should be institutionalized and that military-to-military communications should be resumed. The two leaders committed to limiting the production of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, a significant agreement expected to disrupt drug trafficking in Latin America. In addition to strategic issues, the leaders decided to participate in intergovernmental discussions on artificial intelligence and to strengthen relations by adding direct flights between the US and China. These agreements are seen as positive signs indicating mutual interest in preventing further deterioration of bilateral relations. While experts note that the agreements between the two superpowers represent progress, they may not yet resolve fundamental structural challenges in US-China relations. A China studies expert at the Council on Foreign Relations stated, 'These agreements do not change the structural challenges in bilateral relations, but they pave the way for more detailed discussions at the expert level, which seem essential.' The US-China dialogue covered various topics, with Xi emphasizing the importance of the Taiwan issue, calling it 'the most important and sensitive' topic in bilateral relations. Xi urged the US to stop arming Taiwan while also supporting peaceful reunification with the self-governing island. Simultaneously, the Chinese president called for the lifting of unilateral sanctions and the creation of a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses. The US and Chinese leaders also discussed the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and emphasized the need for cooperation between the two superpowers and the importance of stable and improved bilateral relations. The two superpowers, referencing discussions held in November 2022 about the general principles of US-China relations, welcomed the continuation of dialogue on 'responsible management,' 'high-level communications,' and 'mutual cooperation.'