China’s Foreign Minister Indicates Challenges Ahead for Xi-Biden Summit, According to Reuters

BEIJING – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that the path to the upcoming summit in San Francisco is unlikely to be straightforward, according to a statement from the foreign ministry on Sunday. This summit is anticipated to feature a meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Wang recently engaged with Biden and senior officials in Washington, reaching an agreement to collaborate in preparation for their expected meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

In recent months, there has been a surge of diplomatic engagements between the two nations, primarily at the request of the U.S., aimed at mending relations that had soured earlier in the year after the U.S. intercepted a suspected Chinese spy balloon.

However, during a speech on Saturday, Wang warned that the journey to the summit would not be without difficulties, and could not be taken for granted. This remark followed discussions he had with members of the U.S. strategic community.

Last month, a leading Chinese security agency indicated that any meeting between Xi and Biden in San Francisco would depend on the U.S. demonstrating sufficient sincerity.

Wang emphasized the need for both nations to “return to Bali,” referencing the last encounter between Biden and Xi at a Group of 20 summit in Indonesia last November, where topics included Taiwan, competition, and communication strategies.

He urged Washington and Beijing to act on the agreements made during that meeting, calling for the removal of obstacles, the enhancement of consensus, and the realization of shared goals.

Wang noted that both sides have conveyed positive signals aimed at stabilizing and improving relations and underscored the importance of continued dialogue, despite existing differences.

The discussions on Saturday also covered a range of topics including military interactions, financial ties, advancements in science and technology, China’s investment climate, market access, as well as crises in the Middle East and Ukraine.