China and US to discuss joint action on Islamic State at Beijing summit
Xi and Obama plan talks next month in Beijing on uniting against terror group
The leaders of China and the United States will discuss how to jointly fight the terrorist group Islamic State at a summit in Beijing next month, according to analysts familiar with the situation.
President Xi Jinping will discuss with his US counterpart Barack Obama possible cooperation in intelligence sharing, a crackdown on terrorism funding and blocking arms sales to terrorist organisations.
Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the Chinese foreign ministry initiated a meeting with the US State Department in July to discuss anti-terrorism issues. The last time the two countries held such talks was after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US in 2001.
The fact that Beijing initiated the idea indicates China's increasing concern over domestic terrorist groups having links to foreign sources. Reports about Chinese nationals - mostly Uygurs - receiving training or even fighting with jihadis in the Middle East worries Chinese leaders.
Cooperation on counter-terrorism was also a good way to ease suspicions between the world's two major powers, the analysts said.
Xi and Obama will hold the summit on November 12, a day after the Asia Pacific Economic Forum concludes in the Chinese capital. With a full day scheduled for the summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues to strengthen bilateral ties, which would shape geopolitics in the region and beyond.
