Chinese leader Xi Jinping last met with US President Joe Biden on Saturday, but has been looking forward to President-elect Donald Trump and his “America first” policy, saying Beijing is “ready to work with the new US administration.”
During talks on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Xi warned that stable China-US relations are important not only to the two countries, but also to “the future and destiny of mankind.”
“Make wise choices,” he warned. “Continue to explore the right way for the two major countries to reconcile.”
Without mentioning Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal concern that the president’s protectionist rhetoric coming on the campaign trail could send US-China relations into another valley.
“China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, develop cooperation and manage differences in order to work towards a stable transition of China-US relations for the benefit of both,” Xi said through an interpreter.
Xi, who sits at the top of China’s political hierarchy, made the point in brief remarks before reporters. Biden, who has spent more than 50 years in public service, spoke more broadly about the relationship between the two countries. They didn’t just remember the past four years, but the decades they had known each other.
“We don’t always agree, but our conversations are always honest and straightforward. We never joke,” Biden said. “This conversation prevents miscalculations, and ensures that the competition between our countries will not become a conflict.”
Biden is expected to urge Xi to stop North Korea from increasing its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The leader, with top aides around him, gathered around a rectangular table in a spacious conference room at Lima’s Defines Hotel and Conference Center.
China is the “host” of this year’s meeting, after Xi and Biden met a year ago on the sidelines of APEC in Northern California, the gathering is hosted by the U.S. They have a lot to discuss, including China’s indirect support for Russia, human rights issues, technology and Taiwan, an independent democracy that Beijing claims as its own.
There is much uncertainty about what will happen to US-China relations under Trump, who campaigned on a promise to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Already, many American companies, incl Nike and an eyeglass shop Warby Parkerhas various sources far from China. Shoe brand Steve Madden says it plans to cut imports from China by 45% next year.
In a congratulatory message to Trump after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Xi urged the US and China to manage their differences and get along in a new era. In front of the cameras Saturday, Xi spoke to Biden — but it was unclear whether the message was directed at Trump.
“In the thriving sci-tech revolution, there is no interruption or interruption of the supply chain as the solution,” Xi said. “Only mutual cooperation, meaningful cooperation can lead to common development. ‘Small fields, high fences’ is not what major countries should do.”
After being greeted by Xi, Biden ignored questions from reporters about his concerns about the incoming Trump administration as well as North Korea. The leader also did not engage with reporters after giving brief remarks at the start of the meeting.
Biden administration officials will advise the Trump team that managing intense competition with Beijing will be the most important foreign policy challenge they face, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Biden views his relationship with Xi as one of the most important on the international stage and is working hard to cultivate it. The two men first got to know each other on trips to the US and China when they were both vice presidents, an interaction they both say left a lasting impression.
“For more than a decade, you and I have spent countless hours together, here and in China and in between,” Biden said. “We’ve been waiting a long time to solve this problem.”
But the last four years have presented a stream of difficult moments.
The FBI this week offered new details about the federal investigation into the Chinese government’s efforts to hack U.S. telecommunications networks. Preliminary findings have revealed a “broad and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans working in government and politics.
US intelligence officials have also assessed that China has increased sales of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology to Russia that Moscow uses to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weapons for use in the war against Ukraine.
And tensions rose last year after Biden ordered the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States.
Biden is looking to Xi to increase China’s engagement to prevent an already dangerous time with North Korea from escalating.
Biden, South Korean President Yoon Seok Yul and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday condemned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s decision to send thousands of troops to help Moscow drive out Ukrainian forces that have seized territory in Russia’s Kursk border region.
Biden called it a “dangerous and unstable partnership.”
White House officials have expressed frustration with Beijing, which accounts for most of North Korea’s trade, for not doing more to rein in Pyongyang.
North Korea has also supplied Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to US and South Korean intelligence officials. And the US, Japan and South Korea have expressed alarm over the pace of Pyongyang’s ballistic missile tests.
Kim ordered the test drills during the US election this month and demanded progress on efforts to build a capability to strike the US mainland.
Xi and Biden started the day at the leaders’ retreat at the APEC summit, taking a photo where they all wore scarves made from vicuña wool, the symbolic animal for Peru. It is common practice that the leaders in these meetings are given gifts – usually the traditional clothes of the host country – which are presented for the photo.
