In a very brief statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced today that President Biden would meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, next Monday, Nov. 14 in Bali one day prior to the opening of the G-20 summit. This is the first in-person meeting Biden has held with Xi since taking office. Amidst significant tensions, the purpose of the meeting, Jean-Pierre said, is to discuss efforts “to maintain and deepen lines of communication between the United States and the PRC, responsibly manage competition, and work together where our interests align, especially on transnational challenges that affect the international community.” Almost as an afterthought, the statement adds that the two will discuss “a range of regional and global issues.”
The Wall Street Journal today quoted a senior administration official who explained that “the president believes it is critical to build a floor for the relationship and ensure that there are rules of the road that bound our competition.”
