President Joe Biden welcomed leaders gathered for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference by noting that San Francisco is where “America reaches out all across the Pacific” and “a place where many left their hearts.”
Quick Read
- President Joe Biden welcomed leaders to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative (APEC) conference in San Francisco, highlighting the city as a pivotal Pacific connection point.
- Biden was introduced by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and followed California Governor Gavin Newsom’s speech, who supports Biden for 2024 but has presidential aspirations himself.
- Biden emphasized the importance of new connections and partnerships, noting the empowerment and participation of workers and women in the U.S.
- Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California senator, spoke about improving the human condition through collaborative work at the conference.
- Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the APEC sidelines, agreeing on issues like curbing illicit fentanyl production, resuming military communications, engaging in AI dialogue, and adding direct flights between their countries.
- The outcomes of these talks have significant implications amidst global challenges such as the pandemic, conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and Taiwan’s upcoming elections.
- A welcome reception hosted by Biden and San Francisco Mayor London Breed at the Exploratorium featured a performance by Gwen Stefani.
- Biden and Xi’s meeting resulted in agreements to combat illegal fentanyl, reestablish military communications, and address AI risks.
- Biden, acknowledging his long acquaintance with Xi, emphasized trust with verification and labeled Xi as a dictator.
- Biden commented on the Israel-Hamas conflict, believing it will end when Hamas’s capacity to harm Israelis is degraded. He urged Israel to be cautious in its military operations, especially in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, suspected of harboring Hamas’s military presence.
- Biden supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine for lasting peace.
- The agreements between the U.S. and China from the APEC conference are considered significant for future relations between the two countries.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden hosts APEC reception after reaching agreements with Xi on key issues
Newslooks WOODSIDE, Calif. (AP)
President Joe Biden welcomed leaders gathered for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference by noting that San Francisco is where “America reaches out all across the Pacific” and “a place where many left their hearts.”
The president was introduced by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and followed a brief speech by California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is supporting Biden in 2024 but has made no secret about his own future presidential aspirations. Biden even referenced them, joking that the governor could do anything, including having “the job I’m looking for.”
Biden said he hoped the assembled leaders would “make new connections and spark new partnerships.” He noted that in the U.S., “Our workers are empowered and protected. Women and girls are full participants in every part of society.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, a native of nearby Oakland and a former California senator, said those gathering this week will “continue our work together to improve the human condition.”Biden hosting APEC welcome reception with San Francisco mayor
Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached agreements in several key areas when they met Wednesday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference.
They agreed to work together to curb the production of illicit fentanyl, resume military-to-military communications, engage in intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence and add direct flights between the two countries.
The outcome of Wednesday’s talks could have far-reaching implications for an anxious world that is grappling with global economic cross-currents from the pandemic, wars in the Middle East and Europe, upcoming elections in Taiwan and more.
After meeting with Xi for more than four hours, Biden headed to an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference welcome reception that he is hosting with San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
The president and first lady Jill Biden were joining Xi and dozens of leaders at a reception at the Exploratorium, a museum of science, technology and arts in San Francisco.
The reception will feature a performance by pop star Gwen Stefani, as well as remarks by Biden and other leaders.
Before festivities began, the president participated in a photo line for dignitaries with California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Breed and several leading state Democrats and city officials.Biden lays out commitments reached in meeting with Xi
Biden says he and Xi agreed to work together to better combat illegal fentanyl as well as reestablish military communications and tackle risks associated with artificial intelligence.
Biden met for more than four hours with Xi and talked at a news conference afterward about modest but potentially important agreements reached by both sides. He described how lethal fentanyl has been in the United States and said that miliary communications had “been cut off.”
“That’s been worrisome,” Biden said. “That’s how accidents happen.”
The president noted that he and Xi have known each other for years – and don’t always agree.
“I know the man. I know his modus operandi,” Biden said. “We have disagreements, but he’s been straight.”
But pressed on whether he trusted Xi, the president said he believed in trusting but verifying and conceded that China’s leader is a dictator.
“He is a dictator in a sense,” Biden said.
Biden weighs in on Israel-Hamas war after Xi meeting
Biden says he believes Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza will only stop once the militant group’s ability to kill and injure Israelis is degraded, even as he said he was urging Israel to exercise caution as it carried out military operations in Gaza’s largest hospital.
Biden made the comments at a news conference Wednesday after meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference in California.
“I think it’s going to stop when Hamas no longer maintains the capacity to murder,” Biden said of the war, which was sparked by Hamas’s surprise Oct. 7 assault on Israel that killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Biden said he had discussed with the Israelis their need to “be incredibly careful” as they worked to clear Shifa Hospital, where Biden said he was absolutely confident in sharing Israel’s assessment that Hamas maintains a significant military presence intermixed with civilian infrastructure.
Biden maintained that “the only ultimate answer here is a two-state solution” with Israel and Palestinians living side by side.Experts say agreements have significance for US-China relations
What to know
What is APEC anyway?
Biden’s goal for Xi meeting is to get U.S.-China communications back to normal
San Francisco hopes to rid its image of a city in decline as it hosts APEC
A fragile global economy is at stake as Biden and Xi meetBiden welcomes leaders gathered for APEC conference
