Biden, China's Xi likely to meet in San Francisco next month: Reports

NEW DELHI: US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are likely to hold a bilateral meet next month in San Francisco, reported news agency Reuters quoting a White House official, who also said that the plan remains "uncertain".
The possible face-to-face meeting between the world's two biggest economic powers is expected to be held during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, scheduled in San Francisco from November 11 to 17.
However, US officials have not disclosed the time and location the two leaders are expected to meet as the topic for discussions also continues to be unclear.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post quoted an administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying the possibility of a meeting was "pretty firm".

“We're beginning the process” of planning, the official told the Post.
When reached out for comment on the matter, the Chinese embassy in Wahington refused to respond, even as the White House gave a muted response.
The meeting between US and China, if at all happens, is expected to play a key role in dialling down the tension between Washington and Beijing as the relationship between the two has hit an all-time low -- primarily due to the contrary stands on the South China Sea and Taiwan.

Last year in August, Beijing snapped its cross-military communications with Washington after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan that had left China fuming. The cross-military communication was the channel between the two nations to de-escalate the tension between them.
Later, the relations soared further this year when a Chinese balloon was spotted on US territory, which was ultimately shot down by a fighter jet. The Biden administration called the ballon "sophisticated surveillance balloon".
The possible meeting comes after US commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, secretary of state Antony Blinken, treasury secretary Janet Yellen and Biden's climate envoy John Kerry have travelled to China this year seeking to thaw relations and ensure continued communication.
The potential for a Biden-Xi summit was among the topics of discussion when White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met in Malta last month with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The meeting, if happens, between the duo will be the second meet since the G20 summit that was held in Indonesia's Bali last year in November 2022.