Biden-Xi talks included “very direct” exchanges on technology, economy and nuclear issues, US official says
US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s summit talks in California were “very direct” and included more back-and-forth discussion between the two men than their meeting a year ago, a senior US official said.
Biden was “very direct” with Xi on a number of topics, the official said, while Xi also raised his concerns about rhetoric inside the United States about China.
At one point, Xi told Biden he believed there was unfair negative publicity about the Chinese Communist Party in the United States.
In one exchange about restrictions the US has applied on technology exports to China, Xi likened the steps to “technological containment.” Biden responded by saying the US was not going to provide technology to China that could be used militarily against it.
Biden also raised direct concerns to Xi about harassment of American businesses in China, the official said.
The two men discussed artificial intelligence and agreed to work together moving ahead on the new technology.
And Biden told Xi it was important for China to be more transparent on nuclear issues, as it rapidly expands its arsenal.
Biden did not “pull any punches,” the official said, noting Xi experiences little pushback within the Chinese system.
Biden was “respectful” but “clear.”
The moments of tension, however, were interspersed with some levity. When Biden wished Xi’s wife a happy birthday (which happens to fall on the same day as Biden’s birthday next week), Xi said he’d been working so hard he’d forgotten.
He thanked Biden for reminding him.