California Gov. Gavin Newsom met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, in the latest sign of thawing U.S-China relations amid rising geopolitical conflicts.
The Democratic governor has been in China this week on a visit billed as focused on climate change, in line with California’s nation-leading emissions policies. He said his meeting with Xi focused on climate as well as fentanyl exports, which the Biden administration has been trying to curb through sanctions on Chinese chemical companies. . .
“The president was rather explicit about the desire to be even more specific in terms of what is needed, in terms of calling out and identifying where these chemicals are going,” Newsom told reporters after the meeting.
Newsom’s emphasis on climate change and subnational cooperation as avenues for diplomacy between the U.S. and China may have paid off. The trip should pave the way for a meeting between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco next month in Newsom’s hometown.
via joemiller
