US President Joe Biden held high-level talks with Chinese leadership during the annual G20 summit in New Delhi, marking the highest level meeting between the two powers in nearly 10 months. While President Xi Jinping was not in attendance, Biden met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who took over as premier in March. The talks were unexpected, as the two leaders were not scheduled to hold formal discussions at the summit.

During the meeting, Biden and Li discussed various topics, including stability and the Southern Hemisphere. Biden emphasized that the conversation was not confrontational and expressed his team's ongoing communication with President Xi's cabinet.

He also highlighted the importance of keeping channels of communication open with China to ease tensions in international frictions, specifically mentioning the situation regarding Taiwan. Addressing the economic situation, Biden described China's economic growth as slowing down due to both a weak global economy and certain Chinese policies.

He referred to the real estate sector and high youth unemployment as contributing factors to China's economic crisis. Biden's comment on the ineffectiveness of one of Xi's major economic tenets reflects concerns regarding the Chinese leader's management of the country's economic challenges.

Despite these economic difficulties, Biden stated that he did not believe China's economic troubles would lead to an invasion of Taiwan. On the contrary, he suggested that China may not possess the same capacity as before. Biden reaffirmed the United States' commitment as a Pacific power and expressed no intention of withdrawing from the region.

Additionally, Biden touched on recent moves by Chinese officials to limit the use of US-designed Apple iPhones by state employees, perceiving it as an attempt to alter trade rules. While highlighting the importance of getting the relationship right with China, he expressed his sincerity in pursuing a constructive dialogue.

As the US heads into the 2024 re-election campaign, Biden's handling of the economy and inflation has become a central concern for voters. Despite the challenges faced by both nations, the possibility of improved relations between the US and China remains in focus, primarily to alleviate tensions surrounding Taiwan and promote stability in the Pacific region.