Xi Jinping and Joe Biden may meet during the APEC conference in San Francisco, according to Biden

 Xi Jinping and Joe Biden may meet during the APEC conference in San Francisco, according to Biden

At the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in San Francisco next month, US President Joe Biden hinted at the prospect of seeing Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the Associated Press.

When questioned about the likelihood of a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese leader, Biden told reporters that "there hasn't been such a meeting set up, but it is a possibility."

Since their last encounter in November, which took place on the fringes of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, Biden and Xi have not had any conversations.

Members of the administration have been aggressively pursuing attempts to obtain a meeting with the Chinese side, and officials of the White House have constantly indicated their willingness for the two leaders to participate in discussions.

Over the last year, tensions between the major economies of the globe have constantly increased.

An American-wide Chinese surveillance balloon was successfully deflected by the Biden administration at this time. Additionally, Chinese government agents were involved in a hack on Gina Raimondo's emails. The shipment of sophisticated computer chips to China is also subject to limitations placed in place by the American government.

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The conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as China's heightened aggressiveness in the Taiwan Strait have widened the gap between the two nations.

Beijing, according to the AP, has remained neutral ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, a US intelligence report made public by the White House indicates that Beijing has considered providing Moscow with arms.

Despite the disagreements, both parties have been working harder lately to manage the relationship.

The Chinese embassy in Washington's Liu Pengyu refused to comment on the likelihood that Biden and Xi would meet there, but he did say that the two nations "are in communication on bilateral collaboration and exchange."

"China and the US need to work within the same direction, clear obstacles and manage conflicts with concrete actions, and enhance communication and expand cooperation in good faith," the official said.

On the Mediterranean island country of Malta, last month's discussions between China's foreign minister Wang Yi and Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan took place. After visiting Beijing in recent months to meet with senior Chinese officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Raimondo, and climate envoy John Kerry all attended that meeting.

According to the AP, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will head a legislative delegation to China the following week.