Biden calls for US place in Asia-Pacific, Xi Jinping for improved relations in Latin America
The meeting held by President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in San Francisco, USA, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economic leaders' meeting, will realise the two leaders' international aspirations. It is about sitting down honestly to solve the problems that impede the healthy development of global relations.
China and the United States have had decades of formal exchanges that underpin their understanding of the importance of their relationship with the world. The relationship between the two must be based on open and effective communication. They should operate in an environment characterised by trust, always seeking mutual benefit above their own interests.
The world is witnessing unprecedented changes in human history that require the advancement and development of technology to create a better, more prosperous and war-free world.
"The world is big enough for two countries to succeed, and the success of one country is an opportunity for the other," Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting with his counterpart Joe Biden with a constructive attitude and consistently maintained the maxim "in context" that defines not only China-US relations, but also the reality of the world. In a turbulent environment where conflict and bloc division threaten peace, Washington and Beijing must refuse to abandon each other, form a zero-sum mentality or try to rebuild the other.
The development of the People's Republic of China has had a positive impact not only on North America, but also on many countries and regions. It is no exaggeration to say that the success of one side in relations is an opportunity for the other side and, by extension, for the rest of the international community.
According to a White House statement, US President Joe Biden noted that China and the United States are "competing with each other" and stressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping that "the United States will continue to invest in American energy sources at home and will continue to do so in the future".
Xi Jinping's requests and demands
On the other hand, President Xi said: "I still believe that competition among major countries is not the trend at this time". He stressed that the Earth plays an important role in the success of both countries and that the success of one country is an opportunity for the other.
President Xi Jinping "is confident of a bright future for bilateral relations" as long as the countries find the right way to deal with each other. In a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, President Xi stressed that "China has no intention to overtake or dethrone the United States" and added: "Therefore, the United States should not plan to oppress or blockade China."
This was the first time the two had seen each other, as both rarely left their respective countries. President Xi congratulated Mexican President Lopez Obrador on the "path of progress and reform" Mexico has taken in the five years since he took office and expressed his determination to raise relations between the two countries to a "new level". Xi also stressed the importance of cooperation in key sectors such as infrastructure, finance and electric vehicles, and López Obrador said Mexico would encourage Chinese companies to invest in the country, Chinese state media reported.
López Obrador went a step further and expressed his willingness to develop relations between China and Latin America. In recent years, in the face of tariffs and restrictions on US operations, many Chinese companies have moved part of their production to Mexico. With this, the Eastern superpower has become Mexico's second largest trading partner, behind only the United States.
Joe Biden's claims and requests
The US president expressed concern about China's human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. He reiterated that "the one-China policy has not changed and called on his counterpart to refrain from military action around the Taiwan Strait, saying that neither side is opposed to unilaterally changing the status quo.
Biden also enunciated his concern over China's "unfair trade policies", non-market economic practices and punitive measures against US companies. According to him, the US will take the necessary steps to avoid unjustified restrictions on trade and investment and prevent the use of advanced US technologies to undermine national security.
The US has also raised the issue of detaining US citizens or denying them entry to the Asian country. Biden told a news conference after the meeting that he had provided the names of detainees to secure their release, but no agreement had been reached. With relations strained, the two leaders could be criticised for "revealing weaknesses" in restoring relations between the two countries, especially Vice-President Biden, who is under pressure for re-election.
The China-Latin America alliance
Despite US resistance to market opening, trade between Latin America and China will reach a record level in 2022, with exports of goods to China reaching $184 million (about €169.5 million) and imports reaching $265 million, according to university analysis by the Center for Global Development Policy.
Diplomatic relations between Latin America and China have also strengthened in recent years. Last March, Honduras followed Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic in establishing diplomatic relations with China and severing them with Taiwan.
All have renounced the autonomous island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory and a key US ally in the Asia-Pacific, in exchange for recognising the "one China" principle. It imposes this principle as the basis for its diplomatic relations with other countries, which means that the only Chinese government it can recognise is its own.
Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra
