Biden and Xi to meet in San Francisco for APEC summit, managing U.S.-China tensions.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold summit talks in San Francisco next week during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. This meeting marks their second in-person encounter in almost three years, aimed at stabilizing tense U.S.-China relations. The summit follows a six-month U.S. effort to engage with China, which includes several cabinet-level visits and seeks to recover from a diplomatic crisis caused by the U.S. downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon in February.
The significance of this summit is underscored by experts, who expect it to overshadow the APEC proceedings. While no grand bargains are anticipated, it signifies a crucial step towards managing tensions between these global superpowers, especially concerning issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea. The summit, however, has faced challenges in terms of logistics and scheduling, with China conditioning President Xi’s attendance on the U.S. demonstrating “sufficient sincerity.”
Protests are expected to occur in San Francisco during the summit, with some supporting Beijing and others demonstrating against China’s human rights record. Both leaders will use the occasion to demonstrate their countries’ economic appeal in the Asian region. The U.S. will emphasize its dynamism compared to China’s slowing growth, while China aims to court U.S. businesses after recording its first-ever quarterly deficit in foreign direct investment. High-level engagements between Chinese and U.S. companies and investors are anticipated, signaling China’s eagerness to attract business opportunities.
