Breaking Bread in Bali - Inside Joe Biden and Xi Jinping’s historic meeting

Yesterday, Presidents Joe Biden and Xi (She) Jinping finally reopened discussions after three months without speaking. But what exactly did they discuss? The two superpowers found common ground over a host of global issues. Jeremy Kole has the story.

At the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, world leaders gathered to tackle global issues like climate change, inflation, rising food prices, and the Russian war.

G20 serves as an intergovernmental forum for 19 countries and the European Union, accounting for nearly ⅔ of the world’s population, 85% of the global economic output, and 75% of world trade.

Notably, communication lines are back open between the US & China after President Joe Biden met with President Xi (See) Jinping for the first time since Biden took office in 2021. The two leaders met face-to-face to work through various ongoing issues.

The communication between the two global superpowers hit an all-time low in August after Nancy Pelosi’s unwanted visit to Taiwan provoked China to cancel dialogue with the US across many areas.

The historic meeting lasted nearly three hours, and Biden feels confident about the future.

Joe Biden: It was clear. He was clear and I was clear that we will defend American interests and values, promote universal human rights, and stand up for the international order and work in lockstep with our allies and partners.

President Xi was straightforward, telling Biden that China has no intention to challenge the US and that the world is big enough for both countries to coexist and prosper.

China does not want to interfere in the internal affairs of the US nor change the international order. However, the one-China policy acknowledging that Taiwan is still a part of China is an ongoing issue of disagreement. Biden made it clear that the US’s policy in Taiwan has not changed, but fears of a Cold War have been quelled.

Joe Biden: I absolutely believe there need not be a new Cold War. I’ve met many times with Xi Jinping, and we were candid and clear with one another across the board. And I do not think there is any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan.

On the Russo-Ukrainian War, President Xi expressed that China is highly concerned for Ukraine and has always stood on the side of peace. Interestingly, only the White House readout of the meeting said that both Presidents oppose the use or threat of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

In the end, Biden and Xi importantly agreed to maintain strategic communications. Both leaders will empower key senior officials to sustain communication and deepen constructive efforts on macroeconomic policies, trade, debt relief, health security, and global food security.

Still, the US and China will continue to shape the future for hegemony and economic power, but Biden doesn’t mind.

Joe Biden: We’re going to compete vigorously, but I’m not looking for conflict. I’m looking to manage this competition responsibly.

After months of tension and uncertainty, the US and China are back on the right track.