U.S. President Joe Biden is set to engage in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the “coming weeks,” according to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who conveyed the message during a rare meeting with Xi in Beijing on Thursday. Sullivan, who is the first U.S. national security advisor to visit China since 2016, spent three days in Beijing for talks with high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Sullivan relayed that President Biden is committed to managing the U.S.-China relationship responsibly to avoid conflict and to collaborate where interests align. Chinese state media reported that Xi expressed optimism about maintaining stable and healthy U.S.-China relations, despite significant global changes.
Sullivan’s visit comes amid security tensions between China and U.S. allies Japan and the Philippines. He met with senior Chinese military officials, including Zhang Youxia, to discuss critical issues such as Taiwan and maritime disputes. Both sides agreed to maintain communication to avoid miscalculations and escalations.
The talks also covered concerns about freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Sullivan raised issues regarding China’s support for Russia’s defense industry and emphasized the importance of avoiding cyber conflicts and addressing the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Sullivan’s visit comes ahead of the U.S. elections in November, where the future direction of U.S.-China relations may be a significant campaign issue.
