Xi Picks Opportune Time to Cool Tensions With Biden Meeting
- Chinese president grappling with series of challenges at home
- Both sides seek middle ground that pleases domestic audiences
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China’s Xi Jinping has plenty of pressing reasons to arrange a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and dial back tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The announcement Thursday of a virtual summit before the year’s end between Xi and Biden comes as China grapples with a series of domestic challenges and looming political milestones. Beijing is navigating fears over the potential collapse of indebted real estate firm China Evergrande Group, preparing to host a pandemic Olympics, battling an energy shortage and coping with signs of cautious consumers.