7:27 PM ET, November 15, 2023
Biden-Xi talks included ‘very direct’ exchanges on technology, economy and nuclear issues, US official says
From CNN’s Kevin Liptak
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 range of issues, the official said, while Xi also raised his concerns about rhetoric inside the US about China.
At one point, Xi told Biden that he believed there was unfairly negative publicity about the Chinese Communist Party in the United States.
In an exchange about restrictions the US has applied to technology exports to China, Xi likened the moves to “technological containment”. Biden responded by saying that the United States would not provide technology to China that could be used militarily against it.
Biden also directly raised concerns with Xi about harassment of American companies in China, the official said.
The two men discussed artificial intelligence and agreed to work together to advance 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 “doesn’t pull any punches,” the official said, noting that Xi is experiencing little pushback in the Chinese system.
Biden was “respectful” but “clear.”
However, the moments of excitement were mixed with a certain frivolity. 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 had been working so hard he had forgotten.
He thanked Biden for reminding him.