This article was originally published in English
Biden had been expected to pressure Xi to use his influence with Kim Jong-un to dissuade North Korea from deepening its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, but there were no reports of such talks
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Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the last time before leaving the White House in January and handing the presidency back to Donald Trump. Xi is already looking to the return of Trump and his “America First” policies, saying that Beijing “is ready to work with the new US administration”.
During talks on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, Xi reiterated that a stable relationship between China and the United States it is crucial not only for both countries, but also for the “future and destiny of humanity”.
“Make a wise choice,” the Ciense leader said and added: “Continue to explore the right path for two great countries to get along with each other.”
Biden on Xi: “Frank and sincere conversations”
Without mentioning Trump’s name, Xi appeared worried that the president’s protectionist rhetoric going into the election campaign could trigger another low point in relations between the United States and China. Biden, who is wrapping up more than 50 years of public service, spoke broadly about the direction relations between the two countries have taken.
The outgoing US president reflected not just on the last four years, but on the decades in which the two leaders have known each other. “We didn’t always agree, but our conversations have always been frank and sincere. We have never made fun of each other,” Biden said. “These conversations avoid miscalculations and ensure that the competition between our two countries does not lead to conflict.”
No pressure on Xi to send North Korean troops to Ukraine
Biden was expected to pressure Xi to use his influence with Kim Jong-un to dissuade North Korea from deepening its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, but there was no reported conversation. this guy.
Biden, South Korean President Yoon Seok Yul and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have on Friday condemned Kim’s decision to send thousands of troops to help Moscow to repel Ukrainian forces who have seized territory in the Russian region of the Kursk border. Biden called it a “dangerous and destabilizing cooperation.”
White House officials have expressed frustration with Beijing, which accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade, for not doing more to rein in Pyongyang. According to U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials, the North Koreans supplied Russia with artillery and other munitions.
An uncertain future with the arrival of Trump
There is uncertainty about what U.S.-China relations will look like under President Trump, who campaigned on a promise to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese imports. On Saturday, in front of the cameras, Xi addressed Biden, but many interpreted his words as directed at Trump.
“In a great and flourishing scientific and technological revolution, neither decoupling nor supply chain disruption is a solution,” Xi said and added: “Only mutual and beneficial cooperation can lead to common development. ‘Small yard, tall fence’ is not what a great country should pursue.”
Biden administration officials will advise Trump’s team that managing intense competition with Beijing will likely be the most important foreign policy challenge they face, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. Biden has considered his relationship with Xi as one of the most important on the international stage and he worked hard to cultivate it. “For over a decade, she and I have spent many hours together, both here and in China and in between,” Biden said. “We’ve spent a lot of time addressing these issues,” he concluded.
