US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: lb.ua.
U.S. President Joe Biden met with President Xi Jinping in Lima, Peru, to discuss the most important bilateral, regional and global issues shaping world politics today. This is the third face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the United States and China, following their telephone conversation on 2 April 2024, and according to the White House, the dialogue was aimed at strengthening open channels of communication and responsible management of relations between the two countries. This was reported by the TimeUkraineIsrael portal with reference to the White House press service .
Mutual understanding and responsible competition management
President Biden emphasised the importance of investing in the US domestic resources and strengthening alliances, which have become the basis of his administration’s foreign policy. Biden also welcomed efforts to maintain a mutual understanding with China that avoids conflict by ensuring responsible management of competition. The two leaders took stock of the past four years of bilateral relations, reviewing the achievements of the 2023 Woodside Summit in the areas of military cooperation, artificial intelligence regulation, the fight against drugs, and climate change.
Fighting drugs and strengthening military cooperation
Biden and Xi focused on joint actions to combat drug trafficking, reaffirming the importance of international coordination to identify new threats and strengthen control over hazardous chemicals. President Biden welcomed China’s inclusion on the list of 55 dangerous synthetic drugs and called for stronger measures against the illegal chemical industry. The two leaders also stressed the importance of the military-to-military ties restored last year and the continuation of defence consultations aimed at coordinating security policies between the United States and China.
Artificial intelligence and responsible attitude to nuclear safety
President Biden and Xi Jinping have supported initiatives to develop artificial intelligence within the UN, seeing great potential and serious risks in these technologies. They stressed the need for international oversight to ensure that AI systems are developed for the common good and do not pose threats. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining human control over decisions on the use of nuclear weapons, as well as the need for a thoughtful approach to the introduction of artificial intelligence in the military.
Discussion of regional and global challenges
In light of the current international conflicts, President Biden condemned North Korea’s actions to provide military support to Russia, which only strengthens its aggression against Ukraine. He also expressed concern over China’s cooperation with Russia’s defence industry and called for compliance with international law. Regarding Taiwan, Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to the “one China” policy, calling for a peaceful resolution of possible disputes and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Human rights, trade and cybersecurity
President Biden expressed concern over China’s unfair trade policy and stressed the US’s readiness to protect national interests, including restricting access to advanced technologies that could threaten the security of the state or allies. Biden also emphasised the importance of human rights and called on China to comply with its international obligations, drawing attention to the problem of American citizens illegally detained or restricted from leaving China. He also mentioned cyberattacks on US civilian infrastructure that undermine trust and threaten the safety of citizens.
The meeting in Lima was an important step towards responsible management of US-China relations. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of diplomacy and the desire to avoid conflict while maintaining open channels of communication for cooperation. The meeting underscored the strategic importance of mutual respect and demonstrated the willingness of both countries to find peaceful solutions to conflicts and global challenges.
