"Competition should not lead to conflict". With this message, the meeting between the leaders of the two world superpowers, Joe Biden and Xi Jin Ping, ended in the first confrontation in more than a year, as part of the APEC summit in San Francisco. In a signal that the US and China want to ease tensions, the talks were long, of about 4 hours, and made more intriguing by the fact that they took place in the villa where the famous Soap Opera "Dynasty" was filmed, which shows the rivalry between two billionaire families.
The meeting produced an agreement to resume military communications, suspended after Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. The two leaders also talked about a modest agreement to combat the production of fentanyl, which comes mainly from China and has contributed to a rise in overdose deaths in the US.
"We will restore military contacts, direct contacts. Interrupting them leads to accidents and misunderstandings. I think it is important that you and I understand each other clearly, directly, without misunderstandings. We need to make sure that competition does not turn into conflict," Biden said.
"Planet Earth is big enough for both countries to succeed. China wants to be a partner and friend of the United States," said Xi Jinping.
The two leaders also discussed the conflict in Gaza, with Biden urging China to influence Iran to desist from provocative actions. There was also agreement on artificial intelligence, while stressing the urgency for both countries to address climate change. However, despite the softer tones that signaled progress in the strained relations between the US and China, Biden did not give up labeling his counterpart as a dictator, after being asked by reporters if he had changed his stance. The comment is likely to resonate badly in Beijing, after the meeting has been prepared for months. (A2 Televizion)
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