President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet next Wednesday in the San Francisco Bay Area, marking a significant moment in strained US-China relations. The talks are regarded as an attempt to slow the downward spiral of relations amidst ongoing global turmoil and focus on developing a framework for managing successful competitive relations. While the meeting is not expected to produce a major thaw in their bilateral relationship, it serves as a positive step after months of friction, with the leaders aiming to avoid misperceptions and surprises.
The long-awaited summit, spread out over multiple working sessions, will tackle a diverse array of complex issues, such as restoring military communication, the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, potential cooperation on climate change, and deep disagreements over human rights issues. Amidst a deteriorating US-China relationship, both countries aim to manage and stabilize their bilateral relationship, improve communication, and reduce misunderstandings. This upcoming meeting will be just the second time that Biden and Xi have met in person in the last three years, with ongoing tensions over Taiwan and advanced technology exports exacerbating the strained relations.
The recent high-level meetings and positive signals from China indicate a possible improvement in the China-US relationship. However, given the complex array of issues that exist, the expectation for “significant improvement or reset” in their relationship is realistic. Despite the deepening divide, both US and Chinese officials are hopeful that the upcoming summit will lay the groundwork for future, more regular talks, possibly leading to the reopening of military communication channels.
