The ability authors, musicians, and filmmakers have to tell stories can transcend geopolitics, but the current state of U.S.-China affairs offers almost nothing in terms of a meeting ground for the creatives of either side to exchange ideas. Repairing the cross-Pacific relationship will only get harder if big thinkers and storytellers cannot find a way to communicate.

A review of China-U.S. relations in 2022 shows a shift toward a new duality in American strategic thinking that may dominate for a long time. Communication between national leaders has brought new hope for stability, but now the world is watching to see if their points of agreement can be put into practice.

The historic meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping was short on resolutions, but gave promise for those hoping for a toned down approach to the bilateral tensions that have plagued the two nations since the middle of the 2010s.

Despite tensions between the U.S. and China on the economic and political fronts, leaders from both countries found some common ground during their recent meeting in Bali. Presidents Biden and Xi have reiterated their commitment to work together to address transnational challenges, avoid conflict with each other, and maintain open communication.

Join CSIS for this hybrid event — in-person and live online — to hear from Trustee Chair in Chinese Business & Economics Scott Kennedy, who will discuss the takeaways from his recent extended research trip to China, the first by someone from the Washington think tank community since the outbreak of the pandemic. He will be interviewed and engage in discussion with Peking University Professor Wang Jisi, Founding President of Peking University's Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS) and one of China’s leading authorities on U.S.-China relations. They will discuss developments in domestic Chinese society, U.S.-China relations, and potential pathways to improving the relationship. This event is the bookend event to the February 2022 CSIS event, “A Beijinger in Washington”.

Though Biden and Xi’s first face-to-face meeting since Biden’s presidential term began came with offers of civility and friendship, there remains much work to be done if the U.S.-China rivalry will be toned down within Biden’s first term.

Improved China-U.S. relations are within reach. The conciliatory statements by the two presidents, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, as they met face to face on the sidelines of the G20 summit carve out a foothold that can be strengthened and expanded.

The meeting of presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in Bali may be the first step toward restoring normal bilateral ties between China and the United States. The leaders discussed their respective red lines and agreed to resume talks on several topics. But a trust deficit remains.

With a White House and Senate held by Democrats and the House of Representatives held by Republicans, more complexity may come to China-U.S. relations. A change in House leadership may bring out the China hawks in greater numbers.

The warm smiles of presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden as they shook hands in Bali showed that the two countries are not intractable rivals. They may never be free of competition and struggle, but by using the meeting as a compass they can achieve good things for themselves and the world.