China’s Xi is courting Indo-Pacific leaders in a flurry of talks at a summit in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — Chinese President Xi Jinping, recent off his assembly with President Joe Biden, courted Indo-Pacific leaders in a flurry of conferences Thursday at a time of intensifying competitors with the United States.
Xi held particular person talks with the leaders of Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan and Brunei, all on the sidelines of a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies.
In a gathering with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, Xi stated the 2 nations ought to strengthen financial and commerce cooperation and pledged China’s help for Peru as host of subsequent 12 months’s summit of APEC leaders.
In explicit, Xi stated, China will likely be prepared to import extra “premium” agricultural merchandise from the South American nation and can encourage Chinese companies to take part in main initiatives in Peru.
Earlier, Xi held talks with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, praising the Mexican president for his management and reform efforts and pledging to carry the China-Mexico relationship to a brand new stage. It was believed to be the primary face-to-face assembly between the 2 males.
During the assembly, the 2 sides agreed to deepen cooperation on counternarcotics efforts. China and the United States on Wednesday stated the 2 would work collectively to stem the stream of fentanyl precursors to nations akin to Mexico earlier than the drug is completed and will get smuggled into the U.S.
Xi stated the 2 nations ought to collaborate in industries akin to infrastructure, finance and electrical automobiles, whereas López Obrador stated Mexico would easy the way in which for Chinese companies investing in Mexico. The Mexican chief additionally stated his nation can be prepared to work with China on multilateral affairs and assist promote relations between China and Latin America, in response to China‘s state media.
In recent years, many Chinese businesses – faced with tariffs and other restrictions from the U.S. government – have moved some production to Mexico. Xi expressed his sympathy for those affected by Hurricane Otis and said China made emergency arrangements for Mexico to procure relief supplies.
The Mexican president posted on X shortly after his meeting with Xi that the two leaders “reiterated the commitment to continue maintaining good relations to the benefit of our people and our nations.”
Xi met Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Xi stated Beijing is treating Fiji as “a good friend and a good partner” within the Global South, roughly referring to growing nations.
The Chinese chief additionally met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the sultan of Brunei.
In a gap assertion, Kishida stated China and Japan “share a mutual responsibility to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world.”
China stated Xi informed Kishida that it’s within the curiosity of the 2 peoples for the 2 nations to coexist peacefully, cooperate and develop collectively. Xi stated the 2 sides ought to deal with variations correctly and deal with frequent pursuits.
Xi known as Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei’s sultan, an “old friend” and stated China would work with Brunei to carry advantages to each folks.
Xi spent 4 hours with Biden on Wednesday, their first face-to-face assembly in a 12 months.
