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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Why screening Xi-Biden summit for harmony may be mission virtually impossible

  • The two presidents have met in person on several occasions, but do so this time by video link, without the interaction and hospitality of a state visit
  • Ability to build a rapport may be impaired – and even the countries’ past face-to-face meetings brought mixed results

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Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping will discuss their countries’ relations virtually rather than in person. Photo: AP
Teddy Ng
When US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have their long-anticipated summit on Monday, one aspect – a sign of the times – will be missing compared with their past meetings.

When they met previously, it was face to face – which usually allows scope to gauge the mood with clues from body language, facial expressions and chat on the sidelines. This time, it will be virtual, as has been customary for Xi’s interactions with foreign leaders during the pandemic.

The pair will still address each other face to face in the video meeting, but the usual features of hosting fellow leaders, such as informal conversation and social activities planned around the formal business, will be impossible.

“Face-to-face meeting is definitely better than online, with more direct communication between the leaders,” said Su Hao, a professor at Beijing’s China Foreign Affairs University. “There would be more exchanges of ideas. And more importantly, it will be easier for the leaders to build personal rapport.”

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US, Chinese diplomats’ meeting in Zurich paves way for continued talks

US, Chinese diplomats’ meeting in Zurich paves way for continued talks
But Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Renmin University of China, argued that although face-to-face interaction is generally preferable, this summit may be different, with no sign of an end to the escalating tensions between China and the United States.
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