Xi Jinping Expresses Willingness To Collaborate With Trump As He Meets Biden For The Last Official Meeting.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged Beijing’s readiness to cooperate with Donald Trump in his upcoming term as US President. Xi made the statement during his final meeting with outgoing US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Lima, Peru.
The leaders, meeting for the last time under Biden’s administration, reflected on the “ups and downs” of US-China relations over the past four years. Despite several diplomatic challenges, they emphasised progress on critical issues such as trade and tensions surrounding Taiwan.
Xi highlighted China’s consistent goal of maintaining a stable relationship with Washington, regardless of leadership changes in the US. “China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences,” Xi remarked.
Biden echoed the sentiment, stressing that strategic competition between the two global powers must not escalate into conflict. “Our two countries cannot let any of this competition veer into conflict. That is our responsibility, and over the last four years, I think we’ve proven it’s possible to have this relationship,” Biden said.
During Biden’s tenure, US-China relations faced several challenges, including disputes over trade tariffs, the Taiwan issue, and incidents such as the alleged Chinese spy balloon saga. However, the Biden administration aimed to manage the rivalry responsibly, engaging in dialogue and agreements on key global issues like climate change and narcotics control.
Analysts, however, predict that Trump’s return to the White House could bring renewed volatility to US-China relations. The president-elect has already pledged to implement a 60% tariff on all Chinese imports and has appointed prominent China hawks to key positions in his administration. During his first term, Trump labelled China a “strategic competitor” and further strained ties by attributing the Covid pandemic to Beijing, referring to it as a “Chinese virus”.
Speaking on Saturday, Xi acknowledged the uncertainties ahead but reiterated Beijing’s intent to foster stable relations. Analysts believe China may seek early engagement with Trump’s team to negotiate and discuss mutual interests, though concerns linger over the potential lack of reliable back channels to influence Trump’s policy.
Under Biden’s leadership, the US maintained several Trump-era policies, including tariffs on Chinese goods such as electric vehicles and solar panels. Additionally, Biden strengthened defence alliances across Asia and the Pacific to counter China’s growing assertiveness, particularly over Taiwan, which China regards as a critical red line.
As the world anticipates a shift in US-China dynamics, both nations acknowledge the importance of balancing competition with collaboration to prevent further strain on global stability.
