President Biden, Xi to Meet for Bilateral Talks on Nov 16

Washington: Outgoing US President Joe Biden will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Peru on Saturday on sidelines of an international summit, during which two leers expect to review bilateral relations, White House said Wednesday.

"We expect president will use opportunity to take stock of efforts to responsibly manage competition over last four years, how two countries have vanced areas of shared interest, and, even amidst deep differences and intense competition, have worked to do so," a senior ministration official said.

two leers are scheduled to meet on November 16 at Lima, capital of Peru, on sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. meeting would come just over two months before Donald Trump's return to White House.

This will be ir third in-person meeting since Biden entered office. y previously met in Bali, in 2022, on margins of G20, and at Woodside, California in 2023, on margins of APEC.

two presidents have known each or for more than a dece, dating back to when y were both vice presidents, and have spent many hours in meetings toger.

"We expect this will be ir last meeting as presidents," said official.

Throughout his time in office, Biden has emphasised importance of responsibly managing one of world's most consequential relationships.

"From very beginning of this ministration, four years ago, President Biden me it clear United States would vance and protect our interests at home and abro. And framework of this ministration's China policy -- invest, align, and compete -- has remained constant over last four years," said official.

Biden has prioritised investments and sources of US strength at home, strengned alliances abro, and taken several measures to protect US technology and national security, official said.

"At same time, president has demonstrated that our two countries can and must manage our differences and prevent competition from veering into conflict or confrontation by maintaining open lines of communication and vancing cooperation in areas of shared interest," official ded.

During Saturday meeting with Xi, Biden will want to take stock of progress two countries have me in a number of areas since Woodside Summit last year. Such cooperation can be an important stabilising force in relationship, official said.

"For example, over last year, two sides have resumed military-to-military communications at all levels. At senior level, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Brown, Secretary of Defense Austin, and INDOPACOM commander have met or h telephone calls with ir PRC counterparts over last year,” said official.

Noting that US and China also restarted Defense Policy Coordination Talks in January, 2024 and have carried out agreed-upon defense engagements since, to include Military Maritime Consultative Agreement, MMCA, official said se discussions are important to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

"For first time this year, I should d as well, both sides pre-notified ir respective ICBM launches. Biden has me clear and will continue to emphasise importance of maintaining military-to-military communications at all times and especially during times of heightened tension,” said official.

In dition to discussing issues related to AI and climate change, President Biden will warn that cyber pre-positioning on civilian critical infrastructure and engaging in reckless attacks against critical networks of US are "unacceptable", official said, ding that such actions could destabilise current bilateral relationship and le to an even broer de-risking away from PRC (People's Republic of China) technology.

"I expect President will also underscore importance of maintaining peace and stability across Taiwan Strait and express his concerns that PRC’s increased military activities around Taiwan are destabilising and eroding status quo," official said.

Biden is also likely to express concern over Chinese actions in South China Sea, including China coast guard actions against lawful maritime operations by or South China Sea claimant countries. "And of course, President will also underscore his longstanding concern with PRC's unfair tre policies and non-market economic practices, which have over time created an unlevel playing field for American workers,” said official. 

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