President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping held their first face-to-face meeting in more than a year at a private location in Woodside, California amid tensions in the U.S.-China relationship. Notable items on the summit agenda included President Biden expected to discuss military-to-military communication, addressing the conflict in the Middle East, urging China not to supply weapons to Russia, and cooperation in areas such as climate change and combatting the fentanyl trade.
The two leaders smiled and shook hands after Biden walked out to greet his Chinese counterpart and then the leaders immediately walking inside. They were seated around a large conference table, with Biden communicating his desire for clear leader-to-leader communication. Xi shared his thoughts on U.S.-China relations, expressing that they need to respect each other and pursue win-win cooperation for a better future. Despite the positive interaction during the meeting, questions regarding whether the two leaders trust each other went unanswered.
The talks, officials say, may result in renewed military communication and agreements on issues such as Iran and North Korea. President Biden was scheduled to hold a news conference following the conclusion of the meeting to discuss the outcomes. The meeting presented an opportunity for both leaders to address areas of contention and find common ground on a variety of international issues.
