Biden will meet with China's Xi Jinping next week
 
 
President Biden will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday prior to the Group of 20, or G20, summit in Bali, Indonesia, the White House announced Thursday.
It will be the pair's first in-person consultation since Biden took office, CNN reports. They've otherwise spoken virtually five times over the past two years.
Per a statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the two leaders will discuss "efforts to maintain and deepen lines of communication between the United States and the PRC, responsibly manage competition, and work together where our interests align, especially on transnational challenges that affect the international community." They will also likely discuss "trade, human rights, and North Korea," per The New York Times.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The president "will get to sit in the same room with Xi Jinping, be direct and straightforward with him as he always is, and expect the same in return from Xi," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday. Biden will also make no "fundamental concessions" regarding U.S. support for Taiwan, a senior administration official told the Times. China believes Taiwan is part of its territory.
Officials are under no illusions the meeting will magically ease tensions between China and the U.S., but they are hopeful Biden can "build the floor" for a working relationship that might even allow for cooperation from time to time, CNN reports.
"I don't in any way think that the two leaders are going to sit down and be able to solve all their differences or problems," one administration official told CNN. "But I do think that we believe that some of these steps could be important along the way."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
- 
 The ‘menopause gold rush’ The ‘menopause gold rush’Under the Radar Women vulnerable to misinformation and marketing of ‘unregulated’ products 
- 
 Voting Rights Act: SCOTUS’s pivotal decision Voting Rights Act: SCOTUS’s pivotal decisionFeature A Supreme Court ruling against the Voting Rights Act could allow Republicans to redraw districts and solidify control of the House 
- 
 No Kings rally: What did it achieve? No Kings rally: What did it achieve?Feature The latest ‘No Kings’ march has become the largest protest in U.S. history 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
- 
 Trump demands millions from his administration Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations 
- 
 Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages 
- 
 Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million 
- 
 Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland 
