California Meetings Go Beyond Diplomatic Visit

China and the U.S. have mutually announced that the June 7 and 8 meeting between Xi Jinping and Barack Obama will be held at the Annenberg Estate in California. The news immediately attracted international media attention.

The Annenberg Estate, or “Sunnylands,” has often been the locale of choice for domestic activities and international meetings by American leaders and is often referred to as the “Camp David of the West.” This U.S.-China summit exemplifies careful planning on both sides.

Extraordinary Timing, Unusual Arrangements

Currently, U.S.-China relations are at a critical stage of combining the past with moving ahead into the future. This will be the first meeting between Obama and Xi since Xi became president of China and Obama began his second term. In other words, relations between the U.S. and China have entered a new phase of meaningful interactions.

Obama’s first term as president got off to a good start with U.S.-China relations. However, the middle of the term saw America selling arms to Taiwan and interfering on issues dealing with Tibet. Both sides started gradually working toward a return to more positive relations near the end of the term. Last year’s presidential election in America also had a negative impact on U.S.-China relations.

After Obama succeeded in being re-elected and China appointed a new leader, the two countries ramped up various levels of engagement, dialogue and cooperation. Within a short period of time, through correspondence, phone communications and visits to China by the American secretary of state, both countries confirmed a shared commitment to creating a U.S.-China partnership, thereby attempting to create a new era in major power relations.

The current international situation is complicated and evolving. Thorny issues in Northeast Asia are unpredictable; China-U.S. relations are continually faced with new opportunities and challenges. Modern information technology is rapidly developing and methods of communication between different countries are increasingly varied. However, no form of communication can take away the importance of two heads of state coming together to meet face to face. If Chinese and American leaders had arranged their in-person meetings while attending international conferences as usual, then due to the schedule of this year’s conferences, the first opportunity for a bilateral meeting would be the G-20 St. Petersburg summit in September. Clearly, both China and America feel it necessary to schedule a meeting as early as possible so that Chinese-American relations get going on the right path.

More Than Just a Visit

Diplomacy can come in many forms; for example, visits can be a state visit, an official visit or an informal visit. Meetings also range from official to informal. Modern diplomacy is becoming more and more flexible.

Xi Jinping’s visit to the Annenberg Estate comes after visits to three Latin American countries. Obama will be making a special trip to meet Xi at “Sunnylands.” This is not a traditional diplomatic visit to America, but in some aspects is much improved over a typical visit. In this type of meeting, the leaders do not need to be overly formal or worry about traditional etiquette, and can kick back and feel relaxed and natural. In this relaxed environment, the heads of state can more easily understand each other’s ideas.

The meeting has been planned to allow the two leaders more time together to discuss a myriad of issues. They will be able to hold discussions about various issues at different times and in different arrangements. This style of meeting facilitates a more thorough exchange of the two leaders’ views. Therefore, what appears to be relaxed, flexible, informal diplomatic activities are actually promoting the development of U.S.-China relations, advancing world and regional peace and placing heavy significance on stability and prosperity. It is also critical for the leaders of the two countries to establish mutual trust and a good personal working relationship. This visit will have a long-term impact on bilateral relations.

Broad Issues, Prominent Key Points

Despite the relaxed nature of this visit, the topics of discussion will not be easy. First, Obama and Xi must set the tone for the next phase in U.S.-China relations by reiterating the two countries’ strategic orientation and developmental direction.

Secondly, the proposed strengthening of high-level exchange will create a road map for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. About a month after the California meetings, a new round of strategic and economic dialogue between the U.S. and China will be held. This will be yet another instance of strategically significant, high-level diplomatic activities. By this second round of talks, the diplomatic road map set out by the two leaders will have been refined and put into practice.

Furthermore, a consensus needs to be reached regarding regulatory differences between the two countries as well as proper handling of sensitive issues. The meeting between Obama and Xi will inevitably turn to trade, investment and differing views on security in specific areas of the Asia-Pacific—including trade barriers, issues with North Korean nuclear capabilities, America’s “strategic rebalancing,” disputes over islands, etc. How these two leaders can turn challenges into opportunities and discord into cooperation hinges on the two heads of state participating in open dialogue and establishing guidelines.

This unique time for China and America, along with unusual meeting arrangements, is seen as highly significant by both countries; as such, America and China are busily making preparations. There is reason to believe that this will be a monumental meeting.