The White House said Monday that President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping will discuss improving communication and competition between the two countries this week during talks at the top level meeting of the Organization for Asian Economic Cooperation. - Pacific (APEC).
Wednesday's meeting in San Francisco will be the first between the two leaders in a year and is aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers.
Sullivan said President Biden goes into the meeting in a strong position, as the United States has achieved "the strongest recovery and the lowest inflation of any leading economy." He further added that Washington expects concrete results from the meeting and hopes to see progress in restoring military ties with China and fighting the fentanyl trade.
China cut off military communications with the United States last year after a visit by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The strained relationship worsened further when President Biden ordered the downing of a Chinese balloon that crossed US airspace in February.
Sullivan said that communication between the militaries would ensure that competition does not turn into conflict, and that China has been "constructive" on the issue in dialogue before the high-level meeting.
Presidents Biden and Xi have known each other for more than a decade and have held lengthy talks several times since President Biden's inauguration in 2021. But they come to this meeting with mutual suspicions and resentments toward each other.
Among other sensitive topics, Mr. Biden is expected to address Chinese efforts to interfere in foreign elections and the status of American citizens who Washington believes are wrongfully detained in China. (A2 Televizion)
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