Biden, Xi begin final meeting in Peru as Trump era looms

17/11/2024 7:22

        Joe Biden meets Chinese president Xi Jinping for the last time as U.S. president on Saturday, but the leaders' goal of lowering tensions before Donald Trump's inauguration is challenged by fresh conflicts over cyber crime, trade, Taiwan and Russia.
        
        Biden and Xi will huddle on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Peru - for their first talks in seven months - where Pacific Rim leaders are assessing the implications of Trump's return to power as U.S. president on Jan. 20. They were set to meet at 4 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), the White House said.
        
        Washington is incensed by a recent China-linked hack of the telephone communications of U.S. government and presidential campaign officials, and it is nxious about increasing pressure by Beijing on Taiwan and Chinese support for Russia.
        
        Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is planning to stop in the U.S. state of Hawaii and maybe Guam on a sensitive visit that is sure to anger Beijing in the coming weeks, Reuters reported on Friday. Meanwhile, Biden met Taiwan's representative the summit, former economy minister Lin Hsin-i, who invited him to visit Taiwan in the near future.