Biden and Xi to hold first in-person meeting amid strained ties
The US and China are at odds over a range of issues from Taiwan to Hong Kong, trade, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to meet United States President Joe Biden face-to-face for the first time since Biden was elected to the White House, with the US leader buoyed by a stronger-than-expected performance in the midterm elections.
The two will meet in Bali, Indonesia, on Monday, ahead of a Group of 20 (G20) summit overshadowed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has further strained the relationship between the US and China. The two countries are also at odds over issues including Taiwan, North Korea, and trade.
On the eve of his meeting with Xi, Biden told Asian leaders in Cambodia that lines of communication with China would remain open to prevent conflict but that the talks were expected to be tough.
Biden told reporters that he had “always had straightforward discussions” with Xi, and that has prevented either of them from “miscalculations” of their intentions.
“I know him well, he knows me,” Biden said. “We’ve just got to figure out where the red lines are and what are the most important things to each of us, going into the next two years.”
Biden arrived in Bali on Sunday night, as his Democratic Party retained its control of the Senate after performing better than expected in the midterm elections.
Agencies