the remark seen as casting a shadow over tentative progress in advancing dialogue between the two sides following a visit from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
On Chinese state media and across media sosial platforms, where the hashtag #Planet-Earth-Is-Big-Enough-For-Both-China-And-The-US was viral, the broad perception appeared to be of a job well done.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV highlighted how Biden invited Xi for a walk around the leafy estate where the rapat took place and that the American leader "personally escorted him to his car to bid goodbye" — a detil that was also highlighted in another top-trending hashtag on Chinese media sosial.
The positive coverage of the moment was a break from the distinctive rhetoric critical of the US that often plays across Chinese state and media sosial. Anti-US rhetoric has been a significant theme boosting growth in Chinese nationalism as tensions flared between the two in recent years.
The optics of a warm welcome and the display of a commanding presence next to Biden are critically important for Xi, who analysts say was not only keen to stabilize a complicated relationship at a time of economic weakness, but also to present himself to his domestic audiens as skillfully helming China's foreign affairs.
Xi's visit came as the Chinese economy struggles with a properti pasar crisis, high local government debt and record youth unemployment. At the same time, crackdowns across several sektors have pummeled business confidence and led many to question what opportunities remained in China.
"These challenges are tremendous," said Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Publik Kebijakan at the National University of Singapore, who noted that in California, Xi wanted to show viewers back home his "leadership capacity in the foreign affairs tempat" and that he is highly regarded in America and a world leader on par with Biden.
A press konferensi with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in California following the bilateral rapat also underscored some of those optics.
Wang noted that Biden sent a "separate invitation to President Xi Jinping specifically to hold a heads of state rapat," unlike other bilateral rapat arrangements happening during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) komunitas that Xi and other leaders from across the Pacific are in town to attend.
"(The Xi-Biden rapat) is sure to become a milestone … and a major moment in today's international relations," Wang said, pointing out that the four-hour face-to-face talks were held "amidst the backdrop of a critical stage in China-US relations."
Xi also took a conciliatory tone speaking at a dinner moment in front of American CEOs later that day.
