Leaders of the two largest superpowers met on Monday in Bali amid heightened tensions. The crucial US-China bilateral came before the G20 summit. Additionally, it was US President Biden's first encounter with Xi Jinping since taking office in January 2021.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in person for the first time since the American took the oath of office. 

There were frank discussions, but with relations between the US and China at their lowest point in decades and each nation dealing with a number of serious conflicts with the other, including Taiwan, North Korea's nuclear programme, and the war in Ukraine

Biden and Xi met for the first time after Biden took office as the President of the United States

US officials are also talking of a new quiet effort by both sides to try to mend those ties.

What are the challenges? Can they look eye to eye on some issues?

In my opinion, both have a responsibility to address this issue in order to demonstrate that China and the United States 

can manage our differences and keep competition from approaching a point of confrontation.

Xi informed Biden that Taiwan was a red line that he was not willing to cross

Since Biden served as vice president during the Obama administration, this is the first time they had actually interacted in person. They also seemed friendly in front of others. But this was challenging. 

For instance, Xi reportedly told Biden that Taiwan was the first red line between them that could not be crossed, according to a readout in Chinese media.

This is also the first G-20 summit since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Another issue between Washington and Beijing has been Xi's growing friendship with Putin. According to Xi and Putin, their nations enjoy an unrestricted alliance. 

But Xi's administration has also taken care to avoid giving Russia any tangible aid that might result in Western sanctions.

Xi Jinping and Putin's growing bonhomie has complicated matters further

Additionally, a US official claimed that China's Premier Li Keqiang recently made a reference to nuclear threats being reckless, seemingly in relation to Russia's rhetoric in Ukraine

. The official, who requested anonymity, claimed that it would be obvious that Beijing is uncomfortable with Russia's behaviour in Ukraine, astonished by it, and possibly even embarrassed by it.

What are the other issues on Biden's mind?

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has a full schedule. 

What will his main argument be at the G20?

He reportedly wants to reassert US leadership in the region. The most important thing he can bring to Bali, in my opinion, is a message of participation. 

The meeting between President Biden and President Xi proved that the G20 is actually a chance to, as one of Biden's advisers put it, "set a floor on that relationship."

 To make progress on some of the major issues the world is facing, such as climate change, you need to put a floor under the tensions. 

It's also notable that he just left Cop27 and is travelling there now.

Climate change is one of the issues on which the US and China can agree on

On the back of the COP27 in Egypt, China and the US can put climate change on the agenda

, which holds that the nations that up until now have been accountable for the climate problem should be prepared and able to compensate people who are suffering the effects. 

The topic of finance will also be important for the G20.

 Sustainable energy transition will be one of the G-20's three core cornerstones. 

And that won't happen until there are financial flows that can genuinely decarbonize the industries with the quickest growth. And the majority of those are located in the developing world.

International economics and supply chains

 she addressed India on the importance of friend shoring and the necessity for friendly friends 

to band together to resist nations like Russia that are weaponizing commerce and energy as well as to reduce dependency on China.

 A similar message will likely be delivered by Biden to the G20.

A strategy used by the US to persuade companies to relocate their sourcing and manufacturing operations to friendly shores—often back to the same shores in the case of the US—is known as friend-shoring. And the goal is to protect their supply networks against countries with less compatible policies, like China.

Fed Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen was recently in Delhi

President Biden will also emphasize that at the G20, as will the president of Indonesia this year.

 I believe the main emphasis there will be on examining how all G20 nations can truly contribute to tackling some of the most difficult problems. 

Additionally, although I don't think it would necessarily be a focus in G20 negotiations, bilateral discussions will undoubtedly include supply chain security.

The European Union and the United States have proposed a 

 It hasn't yet been put into effect. Will there be pressure at the G20 to get a resolution on that and to increase the economic pressure on Russia?

China, India, and South Africa are among the nations that make up the G20 and they abstained in the UN vote to denounce the Russian invasion

. If the G20 as a whole can't agree on such fundamental principles, I believe it will be very difficult for them to take significant action on issues like the price ceiling.

It might have to do with how to handle the 

 for instance, and working to ensure its clarity. The 

 is one of the numerous types of topics that might be agreed upon.

It might be difficult for a fractured G20 to reach a consensus on certain issues

From our vantage point, these are the kinds of issues that the G20 as a whole group can probably agree on; 

but, it is difficult to see this sort of accord leading to the capacity to reach a consensus on something as particular and targeted as the price ceiling.

India will be the next President of G20 for 2023

Prime Minister Modi arriving at the G20 summit

Geopolitically speaking, as well as in terms of the energy transition, the usage of coal, and the capacity to power renewables, India is in a very special situation. 

The G20 will address these issues, but the COP will focus explicitly on 

finances and access to finance, development access, and global contributions to resilience and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

India will have that chance, and when it does, the energy transition and energy resilience aspects of things will be crucial.

Prioritizing climate entails two major components:

G20 Indonesia Summit: Biden-Xi meet, Russia Ukraine war, Climate change and more

1 Comment