U.S. President, Joe Bidenand the Chinese president, Xi Jinpinglast met in Lima, Perushowing harmony and some progress in what they both recognized as “the most important bilateral relationship in the world”. They have also sent veiled messages to Donald Trumpwho will be back in power in January and has adopted a fraternal discourse towards Beijing. “The attempt to stop China will not succeed,” they say.
At the beginning of the meeting in Lima, at the close of the APEC leaders’ meeting, which both leaders attended, Xi assured that he is ready to work with the new Trump administration, which will take office on January 20, and work to “maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences as we strive for a stable transition.”
Xi also delivered a cautionary message that seemed more directed at Trump than at the outgoing Biden: “The two countries should keep in mind the welfare of their two peoples and the common interest of the international community…., make wise decisions, continue to explore the best way for the two great nations to get along and achieve a long peaceful coexistence.” “The attempt to stop China will not succeed. The United States has recently concluded its elections. China’s goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship has not changed,” he added.
For his part, Biden reflected on the “many hours” in his four years in office and his three bilateral meetings that he has spent talking with Xi and the progress that has been made since the last meeting. in Woodside (California) last year on narcotics control such as fentanyl or military communication.
By way of advice – for some a veiled message to Trump on how to reset the relationship with Beijing – he reflected, “We haven’t always agreed, but our conversations have always been sincere and frank.. We’ve never made fun of each other. We’ve been on the same level and I think that’s vital.”
A historic agreement in Lima
According to the White House, Biden and Xi agreed on Saturday on “the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons.” and to prevent the artificial intelligence (AI) can take part in these decisions.
White House Homeland Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a press briefing that this is the first time that this precept of nuclear doctrine has been reaffirmed. between the two great rival powers, something he described as very “significant” after the one hour and 40 minute meeting.
“We have to start at some point, on basic principles, and build from there the need to develop a common base. to reduce nuclear risk and a good starting point is in the straightforward proposition that there must be human control over decisions on the use of nuclear weapons,” he said.
Passing the baton to Trump
During this trip to Peru, which will continue on Sunday with a trip to Rio de Janeiroin Brazilto participate in the G20 Summit, the White House has tried to portray an image of normalcyassuring that Trump’s arrival has not been at the forefront of talks with partners such as Japan o South Korea.
Sullivan reiterated that they are not pronouncing on possible policies to be adopted by Trump on international trade or foreign relations, but that “it is an obvious fact that on January 20 there will be a new Administration and he (Biden) reinforced the point that these next two months are a time of transition in the U.S. and a time when the stability of the U.S.-China relationship is essential.”
The “art” of dialogue with China
This meeting has had a distinct flavor of a change of cycle and farewell and Sullivan, a key player in complex relations with Beijing, who wove the makings of this meeting on a visit to China in August, showed unusual candor about how the Washington-Beijing bond is tended tostrained by issues such as the presence of North Korea in Russia, support for the Kremlin’s military industry or territorial pressures in the South China Sea or against Taiwan.
“Leader-level relationships are vital to responsibly manage U.S.-China competition. Ehe tone is set at the top. We teams receive directions from the top. and the day-to-day relationship is derived from an understanding reached between Presidents Biden and Xi. I think the personal dynamics have helped us manage the relationship,” Sullivan summarized.