US–China Relations in the Spotlight as APEC Kicks Off in San Francisco

Rather than expecting a big reset, both sides are approaching this week’s bilateral meeting with the goal of stabilizing their relationship.

President Joe Biden speaks at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery during celebrations for Veterans Day in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 11, 2023. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Global summits rarely make big headlines, but the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in San Francisco, which began over the weekend, will be an exception.

The event will set the stage for a highly anticipated meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, which will be watched closely throughout the world. As the summit’s slogan puts it, “APEC is going to be EPIC.”