Woodside, California, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to restore bilateral military communications and combat illicit fentanyl production. This agreement, reached during their summit at the Filoli estate south of San Francisco, signals a mutual effort to stabilize the strained relations between the two superpowers.
According to Philippines News Agency, which occurred on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco, both leaders expressed a desire to responsibly manage the competitive aspects of the U.S.-China relationship to prevent it from escalating into conflict. Biden, during a press conference, emphasized the U.S.'s commitment to vigorous competition with China, coupled with responsible management to avoid conflict. He highlighted cooperation in areas such as combatting fentanyl production, noting the global expectation for such collaborative efforts.
The agreement to resume direct military-to-military contacts was portrayed by Biden as critically important for avoiding miscalculations. This restoration of communication comes after tensions escalated following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August last year and the U.S. shooting down a Chinese object over its territorial waters in February.
On the issue of fentanyl, Biden announced a new understanding to significantly reduce the flow of precursor chemicals and pill presses from China to the Western Hemisphere. This move is aimed at saving lives, with Biden appreciating Xi's commitment and planning ongoing coordination to ensure effectiveness.
Additionally, the leaders agreed to bring experts together to discuss risks and safety issues associated with artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on establishing international norms for responsible use of AI in the military domain amid human rights concerns.
The wide-ranging discussions at the summit also covered Russia's war in Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, human rights, the South China Sea, and Taiwan. Biden reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to freedom of navigation, international law, peace in the South and East China seas, and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He mentioned that no agreements were reached on human rights and the South China Sea but underscored the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Looking ahead, high-level diplomacy will continue to keep communication lines open, including at the leadership level. Both leaders, with a relationship spanning over a decade, emphasized understanding and clear communication. Xi highlighted the need to develop U.S.-China relations in a way that benefits both nations and contributes to human progress, stressing that confrontation would have unbearable consequences.
This meeting marks the seventh interaction between Biden and Xi since Biden took office and their second in-person talk following their last summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November.