[Text/Observer Net Ju Feng]
November 15 is the big day in Biden’s administration for nearly a year. In the morning, he finally signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, and held a video conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping at about 9 pm. At 2 p.m. local time, the White House spokesperson stated at the press conference that the China-U.S. heads’ meeting is an opportunity to establish competition terms with China, and the newly signed infrastructure bill is the key to Biden’s participation in the talks “from a position of strength.” one of the reasons.
The first video meeting between China and the US in the evening became the focus of the press conference. A reporter asked that according to previous news, the central issue of the meeting between the two heads of state was not on trade. Why?
Psaki responded that there were several key points of the meeting. First of all, this meeting is an opportunity to “set the terms of the competition with China, a rule that can reflect our interests and values, and ensure that China can abide by it.”
Another reporter asked, is the US government treating tariffs as part of its China strategy, or is it a tool to ease prices?
Psaki
The day before yesterday, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen (Janet Yellen) revealed important information on the CBS program: The Biden administration is considering reducing or exempting China’s tariffs in certain areas. This move can help ease recent US prices. Uptrend. At the same time, Yellen acknowledged the problem of inflation in the United States, saying that inflation was due to the epidemic, and estimated that “the second half of next year” may return to normal.
Pusaki said that tariffs are part of the China policy, but we are also reducing the impact of some tariffs, because “There are indeed industries that have been affected. There are some areas that have increased the cost of living of Americans, but they have not produced strategic value.”
Psaki also mentioned the meeting with Chinese leaders. She said, “The president and the National Security team feel that Biden is participating in this meeting from a position of strength — compared with 9 or 10 months ago.” She said that the infrastructure bill is that the United States “handles the relationship between the United States and China from a position of strength. “One of the key reasons.
She mentioned the infrastructure bill signed by Biden on the same day, saying that the bill is very important in several aspects. One of them is that for the first time in 20 years, the United States has invested more in infrastructure than China, which will enhance our competitiveness in China. , And create millions of jobs.
The bill that allowed Biden to finally have “full confidence” to attend the talks, but “difficult to give birth” in the United States for several months. Biden proposed to revitalize infrastructure in March, but it was not until November 15 that the bipartisan infrastructure construction bill worth US$1 trillion (approximately RMB 6.38 trillion) was officially signed into law.
The bill requires the United States to increase a lot of investment in federal infrastructure construction, which mentions that it will add about 550 billion US dollars (about 3.51 trillion yuan) in five years to build roads, bridges, ports and other transportation infrastructure. , Of which more than 110 billion U.S. dollars (about 702.1 billion yuan equivalent) is used to update and repair bridges and highways, including 40 billion U.S. dollars for bridge repair, replacement and repair.
Biden’s investment scale promised in March was as high as 4 trillion U.S. dollars. But in the following months, the parties have not reached an agreement on how much money to spend on infrastructure and how to pay for the investment. After the two sides saw the Congress, the White House first shrank the plan to 2.3 trillion U.S. dollars, and then was forced to shrink it to around 1 trillion U.S. dollars.
Another reporter asked whether Biden was considering a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics? Psaki said that it is up to them both to talk about the Winter Olympics. There is no more information other than that. Psaki hinted that the Winter Olympics were not on the agenda of the meeting.
On the morning of the 16th, Beijing time, a video meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States was officially held. The Chinese side who accompanied President Xi Jinping to the video meeting were Ding Xuexiang, Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Liu He, Vice Premier of the State Council, Yang Jiechi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, and Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng; Accompanying President Biden at the meeting were US Secretary of State Blincoln, President Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, US Secretary of the Treasury Yellen, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Campbell, and Senior Director of China Affairs of the US National Security Council Rosenberg.
Screenshot of the live video of the US conference
Xi Jinping said: “Mr. President, hello. Today is the first time we have met by video. I am very happy to see our old friends. At present, the development of China and the United States is at a critical stage, and the “global village” of mankind is also facing many challenges. As the world’s two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the United States should strengthen communication and cooperation, not only to handle our respective domestic affairs, but also to assume our due international responsibilities to jointly promote the noble cause of peace and development of mankind. This is the common aspiration of the people of China and the United States and the people of all countries in the world, and it is also the common mission of the leaders of China and the United States.
Promoting the development of China and the United States, maintaining a peaceful and stable international environment, and effectively responding to global challenges such as climate change and the new crown pneumonia epidemic require a healthy and stable Sino-US relationship. China and the United States should respect each other, coexist peacefully, and cooperate for a win-win situation. I would like to work with Mr. President to form a consensus and take positive actions to lead the positive development of Sino-US relations. This is the need for the benefit of the two peoples and the expectation of the international community. ”
Biden said: “I am very happy to find time to meet with you. I hope that our dialogue can be frank and straightforward, as in the past. I believe that as leaders of China and the United States, we have a responsibility to ensure that the competition between the two countries will not go down. Conflict, whether intentional or unintentional. I think we need to rebuild the guardrail of consensus, treat our differences clearly and honestly, and work together in areas involving common interests, especially on major global issues such as climate change. Our two countries The relationship between the two countries not only has a significant impact on our two countries, but also affects the whole world.”
Biden expressed his willingness to clearly reiterate that the United States does not seek to change China’s system, does not seek to strengthen alliances against China, and has no intention of conflict with China. The US government is committed to pursuing the long-term and consistent one-China policy and does not support “Taiwan independence”. It hopes that the Taiwan Strait will maintain peace and stability. Return to Sohu to see more
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