At the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden held a much-anticipated meeting aimed at stabilizing China-U.S. relations. The leaders engaged in candid discussions lasting over four hours, signaling a mutual desire to manage their relationship responsibly.
Rorry Daniels, Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), expressed optimism about the meeting’s outcomes. “The results of the meeting are quite positive,” she noted. “Both sides announced progress on areas where cooperation is crucial, including addressing the issue of fentanyl and re-establishing military-to-military dialogue.”
Daniels emphasized that dialogue and communication are essential to striking a balance between competition and cooperation. “As long as we can manage the disagreements through dialogue and communication, there is a chance to show both the public and the world that we can manage the relationship responsibly,” she said.
The meeting underscored the significance of the China-U.S. relationship on the global stage. “It’s critically important for the world for the U.S. and China to manage their relationship responsibly,” Daniels asserted. She highlighted the global challenges that require collaborative efforts, such as climate change, food security, and energy security.
The positive tone set by the meeting offers hope for more constructive relations between the two nations. Daniels believes that the commitment to dialogue demonstrated by both leaders sends a reassuring message to the international community. “The countries of the world don’t want to have to choose between the U.S. and China,” she explained. “It’s not useful for them to feel as though this is a divided world.”
Looking ahead, Daniels acknowledged potential challenges, particularly with the upcoming U.S. presidential election. However, she expressed confidence that the groundwork laid by the Xi-Biden meeting could help maintain stability. “I think the Biden administration has determined that having a stable and constructive relationship with China is a position that it can defend throughout this election period,” she said.
The commitment to the one-China policy was reiterated during the discussions. “President Biden was incredibly clear with President Xi that our one-China policy has not changed,” Daniels noted. This clear stance is seen as crucial during periods of potential political turbulence.
In conclusion, the Xi-Biden meeting at the APEC Summit marks a significant step toward enhancing China-U.S. relations. Through continued dialogue and cooperation, both nations have the opportunity to address global challenges and contribute to international stability.
Reference(s):
Dialogue, communication key to striking a balance in China-U.S. ties
cgtn.com
