The White House Initiates Talks Between President Biden and President Xi Jinping: What You Need to Know

In a significant diplomatic move, the White House has announced its intention to plan a meeting between President Joe Biden of the United States and President Xi Jinping of China in November. The proposed meeting is set to take place in San Francisco, with the aim of stabilizing the tense relations between the two nations.

A Step Towards Diplomacy

The Biden administration has confirmed that it is “reasonably certain” that a meeting will be organized, although no formal announcement has been made yet. According to The Washington Post, officials have stated, “We are in the early stages of planning.” Another senior official mentioned that they are awaiting confirmation of the Biden-Xi meeting, but no concrete details have been confirmed so far.

Upcoming Visit of China’s Foreign Minister

Officials in the Biden administration have indicated that after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the United States in the coming weeks, plans for the meeting will be finalized.

The History of Informal Talks

This “informal” meeting follows the first meeting between the leaders of both countries on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit held in Bali, Indonesia, last November. During that meeting, both presidents emphasized the importance of diplomacy and expressed hope that relations between the United States and China could be put back on track.

Rising Tensions Between the US and China

Tensions between the two nations had escalated significantly after the Biden administration expelled a Chinese espionage operative who was visiting the United States in February. This incident had severely strained relations between the two countries.

Recent High-Level Visits

In an effort to normalize relations, top officials from the Biden administration made several visits to Beijing in recent months. These visits included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Climate Envoy John F. Kerry.

Successful Diplomatic Engagement

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also engaged in a two-day discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malta last month. The White House described the talks as “clear, substantive, and constructive.”

Ongoing Communication Challenges

However, despite repeated appeals from the United States, communication between top American military officials and their counterparts in Beijing has remained suspended.

Conclusion

The White House’s decision to initiate talks between President Biden and President Xi Jinping is a significant step towards improving diplomatic relations between the United States and China. While the details are still being worked out, both sides appear committed to finding common ground and resolving their differences through dialogue.