SAN FRANCISCO. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, are set to meet at Filoli Estate, a country house near San Francisco, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The leaders aim to address strained relations exacerbated by incidents like the downing of a Chinese spy balloon by the U.S. and disagreements over Taiwan and hacking incidents.
The meeting will cover challenging topics such as trade, China’s ties with Iran, and human rights concerns. Biden is expected to urge China to use its influence over Iran amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both leaders seek to convey that, despite economic competition, they are not engaged in a winner-take-all scenario with global implications.
The talks may result in agreements on issues like re-establishing military-to-military communications and addressing the illicit fentanyl trade. Demonstrations and protests are anticipated around the summit, with tensions focusing on Xi and multinational corporations.
As Biden approaches the meeting, he is bolstered by signs of a stronger U.S. economy and the building of stronger alliances in the Pacific. The IMF’s cut in China’s growth forecasts and concerns over China’s business environment add complexity to the discussions.
Xi, following the meeting, will address American business executives, offering a rare opportunity for clarification on China’s expanding security rules. The trip is seen as an effort to assure U.S. CEOs that China remains a favorable investment destination. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the potential for China to improve its image by addressing the flow of fentanyl chemicals.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
