The President of the United States, Joe Biden, met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time in a year on Wednesday to discuss issues that could alleviate friction between the two superpowers, addressing topics such as military conflicts, drug trafficking, and artificial intelligence. The meeting took place at the Filoli estate, a country house and gardens located about 30 miles (48 km) south of San Francisco, before later moving to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit.

The White House reported that Biden and Xi concluded their first round of talks after more than two hours, followed by an extended bilateral meeting that included a dozen government officials from each country. After a short break, both parties met again for a working lunch, including Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, along with Xi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Chief of Staff Cai Qi.

At the start of the meeting, Biden welcomed Xi, emphasizing that, although they have not always agreed, their past meetings have been "frank, direct, and helpful." He underscored the importance of direct contact between the two powers and his desire to maintain an open conversation.

The leaders addressed a range of issues where there is disagreement, such as the situation in Taiwan, the conflict in the South China Sea, the war between Israel and Hamas, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the issue of North Korea, and human rights. While they seek to reduce friction, progress on major differences is expected to be postponed for future discussions.

The Biden-Xi meeting unfolds against the backdrop of China's relative economic weakness, Beijing's territorial disputes with its neighbors, and a conflict in the Middle East that has caused divisions between the United States and its allies. This meeting at Filoli marks a significant step in the relationship between the two powers, and the APEC summit is expected to provide an additional framework to address crucial issues and promote cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.