The White House announced on Thursday that President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to have a phone call “in the coming weeks.” The call is anticipated to occur before the US presidential elections in November.
The upcoming discussion was part of talks between Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, during their two-day meeting in Yanqi Lake, Beijing on August 27-28. The White House also indicated plans to arrange a conversation between military theatre commanders “in the near future.”
Biden and Xi last met in California in November 2023 during the Woodside Summit. Sullivan and Wang’s recent meeting covered a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, with both sides emphasizing the value of maintaining high-level diplomacy and ongoing consultations. They also reviewed the progress on commitments made at the Woodside Summit, including issues like counternarcotics, military-to-military communication, and Artificial Intelligence safety.
The discussions included strategies to combat synthetic drug trafficking, continue repatriation efforts, enhance law enforcement cooperation, and tackle the climate crisis. The White House noted that further dialogue on climate issues is expected during John Podesta’s upcoming visit to China.
Sullivan stressed that the US will continue to safeguard its national security against misuse of advanced technologies, while avoiding undue trade or investment restrictions. He also addressed ongoing concerns about China’s trade practices, wrongful detentions of American citizens, and human rights issues.
This visit was Sullivan’s fifth strategic meeting with Wang since May 2023 and marked the first visit by a US National Security Advisor to China in eight years. Sullivan emphasized the need for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, voiced concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense sector, and highlighted destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.
On August 29, Sullivan met General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in Beijing, where they reaffirmed the importance of regular military-to-military communication to prevent conflicts. Both sides acknowledged progress in their communication efforts and planned future discussions. Sullivan also raised issues related to cyber space, the Gaza conflict, and the need for a ceasefire and hostage resolution.
