The recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit aimed to pursue cooperation between China and the United States amid extreme geopolitical competition. Both countries stressed that they do not seek decoupling and expressed their desire to prevent conflicts. However, tensions between the two nations remain high, with disagreements over trade, climate change, and Taiwan [3bb360f4].
The APEC Summit provided an opportunity for President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to meet and discuss their differences. The meeting aimed to ease tensions and reopen communication channels between the two countries. Climate cooperation was a top agenda item, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Additionally, nuclear arms talks took place, covering various topics related to arms control and non-proliferation [3bb360f4].
Despite the high expectations surrounding the Xi-Biden meeting, the outcome fell short. The two leaders agreed to work together on common challenges and strengthen the international financial architecture. However, the progress made was described as patchy, and both sides were urged to be pragmatic and lower their expectations. It was emphasized that joint actions should be pursued through multilateral processes whenever possible [3bb360f4].
In the context of US-China relations, the Biden administration's strategy includes investing in domestic industry, aligning with allies to oppose China's aggression, and competing globally. The US is leading a delegation to the China International Import Expo, highlighting the importance of agricultural trade between the two countries. This demonstrates the ongoing efforts to find areas of collaboration amidst the strained relationship [3bb360f4].
Overall, the APEC Summit provided a platform for the United States and China to engage in dialogue and address their differences. While the progress may be patchy, the meetings have created opportunities for both countries to work towards a more cooperative stance and find common ground on key issues [3bb360f4].