US President Joe Biden emerged Wednesday from four hours of talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping confident the fraught US-China relationship was improving, touting agreements on curbing fentanyl production and restoring military communication while still acknowledging that deep strains remain.
Biden said he and Xi had each agreed to pick up the phone and talk during periods of disagreement, and called the talks “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.”
Despite the progress made during the summit, President Biden referred to President Xi as a dictator when departing the meeting’s news conference. The achievements related to fentanyl and military communication, anticipated before the talks, mark significant steps in easing the still-tense relations between Washington and Beijing. In a press conference post-summit, Biden characterized his approach to the Chinese leader as “Trust but verify, as the old saying goes. That’s where I am.”
The summit aimed to stabilize the U.S.-China relationship after months of heightened tension between the two global powers. Prior to the talks, U.S. officials managed expectations, clarifying that they did not anticipate an extensive list of outcomes or the customary joint leaders’ statement typically issued after such summits.
The primary focus of the talks seemed to center on re-establishing communication channels, especially within the military, with the aim of preventing potential misunderstandings or miscalculations that could escalate into open conflict—a concern among U.S. officials. US President Joe Biden
President Biden, in reflecting on the discussions, emphasized his responsibility to manage the situation rationally and prevent it from spiraling into conflict. He stated, “My responsibility is to make this rational and manageable, so it doesn’t result in conflict. That’s what I’m all about.”
Biden disclosed that China had agreed to take action against companies involved in the production of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, a potent narcotic contributing to a drug crisis in the United States. The U.S. will closely monitor China’s actions to ensure follow-through on the commitments made during the summit. The president expressed gratitude for Xi’s commitment on this issue, emphasizing that the agreement to reduce precursor chemicals for fentanyl has the potential to “save lives.”