US-China meeting a chance to ‘reset’ ties even as Xi Jinping’s third term poses challenges ahead: Hillary Clinton

The former US secretary of state says it would be in China’s interest for Xi to ‘dig in’ during his meeting with Biden to achieve shared goals on issues such as climate change

Speaking via video link at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Clinton noted, however, that Xi’s decision to ‘stay in office for life’ would be a challenge for US-China ties

Reading Time:2 minutes

Hillary Clinton said the Xi-Biden meeting would build confidence amid frosty relations, but it would need to be followed up with further dialogue. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:30pm, 9 Nov 2023Updated: 9:14pm, 9 Nov 2023

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is hoping that Chinese President Xi Jinping will see it is in China’s interest to “dig in” with US President Joe Biden at their meeting in California next week to find ways to cooperate on issues such as climate change.

Speaking via video link during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Clinton said Xi would find in Biden “a receptive partner” and the meeting would be a chance for the two superpowers to “reset the table”.

Describing Xi as someone with a very different leadership style to previous Chinese leaders she had dealt with when she was secretary of state, Clinton said how the two countries would get along depended on Xi’s goals.

Clinton served in the post under Barack Obama during his first term as president, until 2012.

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton (right) and then Chinese president Hu Jintao meet in Beijing on May 3, 2012. Photo: AFP

“Part of the reason things were somewhat more positive when I was there – and we had a very regular set of meetings – was because Hu Jintao was a Chinese leader who decided he would not stay for life,” she said.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x