United States President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, marking what is anticipated to be their final in-person encounter during Biden’s presidency, as China prepares for a potential Donald Trump administration in Washington.
The two leaders are participating in a two-day summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group in Lima, Peru, which commenced on Friday. This meeting will be their third face-to-face interaction since Biden assumed office. The relationship between China and the United States, the two foremost global superpowers, significantly deteriorated during Trump’s initial term, characterized by the initiation of a trade war and the imposition of severe tariffs on Chinese goods.
However, tensions have escalated further over the past four years under the Biden administration, with contentious issues ranging from trade disputes to concerns regarding TikTok. In 2023, Mexico surpassed China as the United States’ largest trading partner for the first time in two decades, reflecting the decline in economic relations.
Despite these challenges, Biden has endeavored to sustain a stable relationship with Beijing. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters prior to the Lima meeting that Xi and Biden would address the transition to a potential Trump administration and the importance of maintaining composure on both sides during this period. During his current election campaign, Trump has threatened to impose blanket tariffs of 60 percent on all Chinese imports to the United States.
