Garčević’s Perspectives on the Biden-Xi Summit and Global Relations

In a recent interview with BHRT – Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their foreign policy show Global, Amb. Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, explored the key takeaways from the summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. Amb. Garčević highlighted the significance of the meeting, characterizing it as a positive yet incremental step in diplomatic relations between two global powerhouses. The interview, broadcast on November 21, 2023, provided valuable insights into the nuances of the discussions.

While acknowledging the lengthy list of disagreements, including Taiwan, the war in Ukraine, and the Middle East crisis, Amb. Garčević emphasized the diplomatic achievement of having the leaders engage in dialogue, stating,

 “Having two of the most powerful presidents in the world speaking to each other is a diplomatic achievement in itself. The list of disagreements is still long, and one should not be overly optimistic.”

According to China’s official account of the meeting, President Xi wanted the US to lift sanctions and change policies on export controls for sensitive equipment, which didn’t happen. President Biden again called President Xi ‘dictator’, but this time, Chinese media deliberately overlooked that remark. Despite the differing views, the meeting yielded noteworthy results. The two nations, being the largest carbon emitters globally, agreed to take further measures to combat climate change. Additionally, they addressed critical issues such as fentanyl smuggling, an area of paramount importance for the US. The resumption of military communication, a priority for Washington, was also achieved. As a gesture of goodwill, China sent new pandas to the US.

For a comprehensive understanding of the insights shared by Amb. Vesko Garčević, the interview can be viewed on BHRT’s YouTube channel here.