Imtiaz Gul
President Xi Jinping and his United States counterpart Joe Biden held a virtual meeting on November 16, 2021. Both HAD comprehensive and in-depth communications and exchanges over strategic, general and fundamental issues concerning bilateral ties as well as important issues of common concern. The meeting was the first of its kind between the two leaders since Biden took office in January. They later also twice spoke over the phone, in February and September.
What Did Biden Say?
President Biden said that the US-China relationship is the most important bilateral relations in the world. As two major countries, the US and China have a responsibility to the world as well as to our people. The two sides need to have open and candid dialogues to enhance understanding of each other’s intentions, and make sure that competition between the two countries is fair and healthy and does not veer into conflict. Biden reiterated that the US does not seek to change China’s system, the revitalization of its alliances is not anti-China, and the US has no intention to have a conflict with China.
Biden emphasized the need for the US and China to work more closely in areas where their interests align, respond to global challenges such as the COVID pandemic and climate change, and deliver better lives to the two peoples. We should encourage the younger generation to interact more. President Biden reaffirmed the US government’s long-standing one-China policy, stated that the US does not support “Taiwan independence”, and expressed the hope for peace and stability to be maintained in the Taiwan Strait.
But President Xi was more forthcoming on the issue. He cautioned of “resolute measures” if the separatist forces for “Taiwan’s independence” made coercive provocations or even crossed the red lines. As such recent moves are extremely dangerous and are just like playing with fire, he said, noting that whoever plays with fire will get burnt.
What did Xi Say?
· On China-US ties: Xi highlighted the significance of a sound and stable China-US relationship in advancing the two countries’ development and for safeguarding a peaceful and steady international environment.”China and the US should respect each other, coexist in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation,” Xi said and identified following potential areas for cooperation
· Key areas for cooperation:
1.China-US Trade:
Xi said that business is business, and economic and trade issues between China and the US should be prioritized instead of being politicized. He said that China takes seriously the wishes of the US business community to travel to China more easily, and has agreed to upgrade fast-track arrangements. The president also added that the US should stop abusing or overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese businesses and urged the US to be mindful of the spillover effects of its domestic macro policies and adopt responsible macroeconomic policies.
2.Public Health:
Xi said that China and the US need to establish a cooperation mechanism for global public health and communicable disease prevention and control, and promote further international exchanges and cooperation. He also highlighted that the response to any major disease must be based on science and politicizing diseases does no good but only harm. Xi also said the pressing priority in the global COVID response is to address the vaccine deficits and close the vaccination gap.
3.Energy Security:
President Xi noted the need for China and the US to call on the international community to jointly protect global energy security, strengthen cooperation on natural gas and new energy, and work with other countries to keep global industrial and supply chains safe and stable.
4.Climate Change:
Xi said that climate change can well become a new highlight of China-US cooperation as both countries are transitioning to green and low-carbon economy. Since China is still the largest developing country in the world, all countries need to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and strike a balance between addressing climate change and protecting livelihoods. “What the world needs is less finger-pointing or blame game, but more solidarity and cooperation,” said Xi.
5.Human Rights:
Xi said that whether a country is democratic or not should be left to its own people to decide, and dismissing forms of democracy that are different from one’s own is in itself undemocratic. He also that China is ready to have dialogues on human rights on the basis of mutual respect, but opposes using human rights as a pretext to meddle in other countries’ internal affairs.
Other Affairs Discussed:
I. Taiwan:
Xi told Biden that China will be compelled to take resolute measures if the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence” make coercive provocations or even cross the red line. As Such moves are extremely dangerous and are just like playing with fire, he said, noting that whoever plays with fire will get burnt.
II. The two sides also exchanged views on Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear issue, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and other international and regional issues of mutual interest.
III. The two sides agreed to maintain close communication in different forms and steer China-US relations back on the right track of sound and steady development, for the good of the people in both countries and around the world.
Though the meeting was candid, it proved to be constructive, substantive and productive and is expected to increase mutual understanding, add to the positive expectation of the international community for this relationship, and send a powerful message to the two countries and the world.
