Peru: Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged for stable and cooperative US-China Relations as he concluded his last meeting with outgoing US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru.
While addressing reporters, Xi highlighted the necessity of “mutual respect” in navigating the complex ties between the world’s two largest economies. Without naming Donald Trump directly, Xi acknowledged the recent US election results, where Trump secured a second term in office.
Xi stated that, “The United States has recently ended its elections. China’s goal of a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship remains unchanged.” However, he warned against adversarial dynamics, warning that, “If we take each other as rival or adversary, pursue vicious competition, and seek to hurt each other, we would roil the relationship or even set it back.”
Trump’s return to the White House marks a potential continuance of his hardline stance on China, a hallmark of his previous term. During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to shield American industries from Chinese competition and highlighted his record of imposing tariffs on Chinese goods.
Despite their turbulent history, Xi extended an olive branch to Trump, expressing China’s readiness to cooperate with the new administration. Xi stated that, “China is ready to work with the new US leadership to maintain communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences.”
In his final meeting with Biden, Xi traded politeness but also tackled serious topics, including the flow of synthetic drugs into the US, artificial intelligence governance, and Taiwan. Both leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining human oversight of nuclear weapons amidst the rapid advancement of AI. Biden also reiterated the US’s commitment to the “one China policy” while opposing destabilising military actions around Taiwan.
Reflecting on their relationship, Biden noted the genuine nature of their discussions. Biden stated that, “We haven’t always agreed, but our conversations have always been candid and frank. These conversations prevent miscalculations and ensure the competition between our two countries will not veer into conflict.”
As Trump prepares to assume office in January, the limelight will be on how the US-China relationship matures under his leadership, especially as both nations grapple with economic, technological, and geopolitical challenges.
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