US President Joe Biden welcomed his Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the summit in California.
Politicians warmly greeted each other near an estate south of San Francisco where negotiations will take place, CNN reported.
Biden and Xi met in San Francisco
Biden said it was important that he and Xi have a candid understanding of each other before the start of the summit.
Currently watching
“I think it is extremely important that you and I clearly understand each other, as leader to leader, without any misconceptions or misunderstandings,” Biden told Xi at the beginning of the summit.
Biden said competition between the US and China cannot escalate into conflict , and added that his past meetings with Xi have been “candid, direct and helpful.”
According to the US President, he always makes their discussions “direct and frank.” He said leaders have a responsibility to their people to work together, particularly on climate change, counter-drug trafficking and approaches to artificial intelligence.
For his part, Xi recalled Biden's trip to China when he was vice president 12 years ago. He emphasized the difficult nature of Beijing's relations with Washington over the past 50 years, which, “despite the ups and downs, continue to move forward.”
“For two great countries like China and the United States, turning their backs on each other is not an option.” One side is unable to surpass the other, and conflict and confrontation have unbearable consequences for both sides, Xi added.
The last time Biden and Xi Jinping saw each other was on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November 2022, and the Chinese leader has not come to the United States for the last four years, primarily due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Want to rest? Come to Facti.GAMES!
According to media reports, Biden will ask the Chinese leader to put pressure on Iran during Xi's meeting in San Francisco.
The White House also reported that during the meeting there would be a conversation about events in Ukraine. According to John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator at the US National Security Council, it is likely that both leaders will talk about what is happening in Ukraine.
