Biden and Xi meet, pledge to ease US-China tensions

President Biden met with President Xi Jinping near San Francisco, with the two sides pledging to reduce tensions and prevent US-China competition from turning into conflict.

US President Joe Biden welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Filoli garden estate south of San Francisco on November 15, marking the first time the two leaders met in person in a year.

"We have to make sure competition doesn't spill over into conflict," Mr. Biden told Mr. Xi as the two countries' delegations sat down at the meeting table.

"The Earth is big enough for both countries to succeed," the Chinese president replied.

President Biden (left) and President Xi Jinping at Filoli garden house on November 15. Photo: Reuters — President Biden (left) and President Xi Jinping at Filoli garden house on November 15. Photo: *Reuters*

The White House boss said Washington and Beijing need to manage bilateral relations responsibly, emphasizing that issues such as climate change, drug dealing and AI require attention from both sides.

"There are serious global challenges that require shared leadership. It's important that leaders on both sides understand each other. We've made real progress," President Biden wrote on social media X after the meeting and before having lunch with President Xi Jinping.

President Xi Jinping said the world had changed a lot since meeting President Biden last year. He affirmed that the US-China relationship was "the most important bilateral relationship in the world", adding that the two countries' leaders "shoulder a heavy responsibility to their people, the world and history".

"Turning against each other is not an option for two big countries like China and the US. It is unrealistic for one side to try to change the other, confrontation and conflict will bring unimaginable consequences for both sides," he said.

The meeting between the US and Chinese leaders lasted more than 4 hours.

The White House later issued a statement saying the US and Chinese leaders had "frank and constructive discussions on a range of bilateral and international issues, as well as exchanged views on differences between the two sides".

Chinese state media said Mr. Xi expressed his wish that China and the United States "become partners, respect each other and live together peacefully ," adding that the two countries should promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, climate change response and AI.

Beijing and Washington also agreed to resume high-level communication between the two countries' militaries.

Chinese President and US President with delegations from both countries before the meeting on November 15. Photo: Reuters — Chinese President and US President with delegations from both countries before the meeting on November 15. Photo: *Reuters*

The last time the US and Chinese leaders met in person was on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in November 2022, an event considered an effort to improve relations between the two countries after a period of tension.

However, efforts to break the ice between the two countries were hampered when the US shot down a Chinese balloon in early February. Washington accused it of being a spy balloon, while Beijing insisted the vehicle was a stray meteorological observation device.

Several senior US officials have visited China in recent months, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and special presidential envoy for the environment John Kerry.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the US in late October and said that Beijing and Washington need "deep, comprehensive dialogue" to reduce misunderstandings and stabilize relations.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters, AFP )

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