Biden and Xi hold talks in California

A summit between the leaders of China and the US was held off-site during APEC.

On the first day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, US President Joe Biden welcomed Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to a bilateral summit in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Before the formal talks began, the presidents gave reporters their opening remarks while surrounded by a number of senior government figures.

Reminding Xi that their last meeting took place in Bali a year and a day ago, Biden expressed his eagerness for open and sincere talks regarding the US-China relationship, stating that it must be “managed responsibly” to avoid devolving into rivalry.

To his Chinese counterpart, the US president said, “I’ve never doubted what you told me.”

Rising protectionism and the “sluggish” post-pandemic global economy are two of the many serious issues facing the world, according to Xi, who also observed that “a lot has happened” since Bali.

READ ALSO: Biden urges for a short-term halt from Israel – Axios

According to Xi, the creation of a multipolar global order is the reason why the Sino-American partnership is the “most important bilateral relationship in the world” and should be developed within the framework of continuing dramatic changes.

The Chinese president stated that China and the US should put aside their disputes and work towards amicable relations.

Biden was informed by Xi that “it is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other” and that “the planet is big enough for [our] two countries to succeed.”

Tuesday marked Xi’s arrival in California for the APEC meeting in 2023. There are twenty-one Pacific Rim nations represented in the intergovernmental forum.