Plans are underway for a potential face-to-face meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, The White House confirmed Friday.
Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, told reporters on a call Friday that Biden and Xi discussed a face-to-face meeting during their last phone call. Campbell added that the administration doesn’t “have anything further in terms of time or location.”
The Wall Street Journal first reported that the potential meeting will occur in November to coincide with Xi’s possible trip to Southeast Asia. Xi’s trip is still in the works and would come after the Chinese president’s rumored announcement to seek a third term.
Xi – following the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party – will reportedly travel to Bali, Indonesia for the G20 summit on Nov. 15-16 and then visit Bangkok, Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit two days later, the WSJ reported.
The WSJ noted that Biden and Xi’s possible meeting would occur at one of the summits, though Campbell did not confirm this detail. (RELATED: China Sanctions Nancy Pelosi Over Taiwan Trip)
U.S. President Joe Biden holds virtual talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 18, 2022. The White House/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
China’s Foreign Ministry told the WSJ that the country “supports Indonesia and Thailand” as hosts for the upcoming summits and that China “is willing to work with all parties to promote the conference to achieve positive results.”
The meeting, if it occurs, would mark the first time Xi and Biden have met in person since the American president took office. Xi’s trip would also be notable, as the last time he traveled outside of China was in early 2020, according to the WSJ.
The potential November meeting coincides with ongoing and increased tensions between the U.S. and China. These tensions were exacerbated when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan on August 2.