As first step, both nations agree to reopen communication lines
New Delhi: China and the US have resolved to keep an open line of communication to prevent competition veering into conflict, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
China had shut down military-to-military and other lines of communication with the US after a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
As the first step to bring back communications on track, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will visit Beijing, the two leaders agreed.
President, Joe Biden in his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since he took over as US President said tthe US would continue to compete vigorously with China, including by “investing in sources of strength at home and aligning efforts with allies and partners around the world”.
“This competition should not veer into conflict and the US and China must manage it responsibly,” said a White House readout.
The two leaders, meeting in Bali on the eve of the G20 Summit, discussed the importance of developing principles that would advance these goals and tasked their teams to discuss these further, it added.
Xi spoke about charting a “flight course” for the relationship between the two superpowers, important not only for the two countries, but also for the whole world. He also said there was “no intention to challenge or displace the US”, according to Xinhua.
During their meeting, Xi said he also looked forward to working with Biden to bring China-US relations back to the track of healthy and stable growth to the benefit of the two countries and the whole world.
The US could not get get any condemnation of Russia out of the Chinese except for both leaders stating that a nuclear war should never be fought and could never be won. They also underscored their opposition to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
On Taiwan, Biden said the “One China policy” had not changed and raised objections to China’s coercive actions against Taiwan. He also raised concerns about China’s non-market economic practices, which “harm American workers”, the White House stated.
Meanwhile, Inddian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet US President Biden, PM Rishi Sunak and French President Macron among other leaders at the G20 Summit
It wasn’t clear if a separate meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was on the cards
If it takes place, it will be the first one-on-one interaction since the Galwan valley clash in June 2020
World leaders have Russia-Ukraine on their minds
The atmosphere a day before the two-day G20 summit is surcharged with expectation and speculation in the upmarket Nusa Dua area of the resort Island.
The main focus of interest admittedly are the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on the global economy, as well as the impending meeting on Monday, November 14, between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Western leaders are likely preparing for a possible showdown over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia can expect flak, for instance, when the summit discusses “food and energy security”.
Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made his intention clear before leaving London for the meeting. “This G20 Summit will not be business as usual,” he declared.
The Ukraine issue may also prove a stumbling block in drafting the summit communique, a consensus document, Also, there could be trouble when the leaders gather for the customary group photo at the end of the summit, with some possibly objecting to Lavrov being in the frame.
The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA and the European Union (EU).
Together, they account for over 80 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of international trade and two-thirds of the world population.
Indonesia’s term as G20 president ends with this summit with India now set to take over from December 1.
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