WASHINGTON, - In a significant move to stabilize their strained relations, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on Wednesday to resume bilateral military communications and collaborate on curbing illicit fentanyl production. This agreement was reached during their summit in California, marking their first in-person meeting in a year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit resulted in "some important progress," as he emphasized the need for responsible management of U.S.-China competition to prevent it from escalating into conflict. He highlighted the agreement on fentanyl, stating that both countries would work together to significantly reduce the flow of precursor chemicals and pill presses from China to the Western Hemisphere. Biden noted this as a crucial step in saving lives and appreciating Xi's commitment to the issue.
The four-hour-long summit, which took place at the Filoli estate in Woodside, south of San Francisco, occurred on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. This meeting comes after a period of heightened tensions between the United States and China over issues such as security, trade, and technological leadership.
The agreement to resume direct military-to-military contacts, suspended after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and further strained by the U.S. downing of a Chinese balloon, was deemed "critically important" by Biden. He stressed the need for clear and direct communications to avoid miscalculations.
Furthermore, the leaders agreed to bring U.S. and Chinese experts together to discuss risk and safety issues associated with artificial intelligence (AI). Biden highlighted the significance of establishing international norms for the responsible use of AI, especially in the military domain, amid concerns about its potential exploitation.
The wide-ranging summit also covered topics such as the Ukraine war, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, human rights, the South China Sea, and Taiwan. Biden reiterated the U.S.' commitment to freedom of navigation, international law, peace and stability in the South and East China seas, and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. However, he acknowledged that there were no agreements on human rights and the South China Sea, while stressing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The White House later stated that high-level diplomacy between Washington and Beijing would continue, including at the leadership level, to keep communication lines open. Both leaders recognized the significance of their decade-long relationship and the need for a constructive U.S.-China relationship, with Xi emphasizing the importance of developing bilateral ties that benefit both peoples and contribute to human progress.
The APEC summit, which also included South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, focused on creating a resilient and sustainable future. Formed in 1989, APEC represents a significant portion of the world's population, global trade, and economy.