On the afternoon of the local time, the leaders of China and the United States held a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. This meeting marked the third face-to-face encounter between the Chinese and American leaders since President Biden took office, and it was also the final meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping as the leaders of their respective countries.

From Bali, Indonesia, in November, to San Francisco, USA, in November, and now to Lima, Peru, the "Xi-Biden meetings" have witnessed the ups and downs of Sino-US relations. History has shown us that cooperation between China and the United States can accomplish great things, good things, and big things, while confrontation will lead to great turmoil, division, and disaster.

The current Sino-US relationship stands at a new historical starting point, and the direction it will take is of concern to the peoples of both countries and the international community. Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden held a meeting in Lima.

From Bali to San Francisco: Despite the ups and downs, China-US relations have achieved overall stability. Since taking office, Biden has defined China as "the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological capabilities to pose a significant challenge to the stable and open international system." The Biden administration has successively introduced mechanisms such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework () and the Quad Security Dialogue (), aiming to reshape the Indo-Pacific environment and build an anti-China "small circle" with allied partners. As a result, China-US relations once hit a low point, causing global concern. However, China has consistently adhered to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation in handling China-US relations, and has promoted and facilitated the previous two summits between the leaders.

The first meeting in Bali did not halt the downward trend in the relationship between the two countries. In a certain month, Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, brazenly visited Taiwan. This incident immediately escalated the situation in the Taiwan Strait, casting a shadow over the already strained Sino-U.S. relations. During the Bali Summit in a certain month, President Xi Jinping met face-to-face with President Biden, responsibly engaging in communication with the U.S. side, bringing a glimmer of hope for the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations. After the meeting, China demonstrated full sincerity and actively promoted the implementation of the consensus reached during the summit. However, at the beginning of the year, the U.S. hyped the so-called "spy balloon incident," severely disrupting the process of improving Sino-U.S. relations based on the Bali consensus, leading to obstacles in communication at all levels and in various fields, and causing the bilateral relationship to fall into a "freeze."

San Francisco Breaks the Ice: Stabilizing and Improving Sino-US Relations. The sharp downturn in Sino-US relations began to gradually warm up until the month and year, ushering in a new round of intensive interactions between the two countries. Official and people-to-people exchanges continued. The 2023 San Francisco Summit between the leaders was the pinnacle of this round of interactions. During the meeting, President Xi Jinping proposed that both sides should work together to build the five pillars of Sino-US relations, aiming to stabilize and improve the bilateral relationship.

On the date, President Xi Jinping of China and President Joe Biden of the United States held a meeting between the leaders of China and the United States at the Filoli Manor in San Francisco. Following the San Francisco meeting, the relationship between China and the United States stabilized after a period of decline, and progress was made in various fields. The dialogue and cooperation between the two countries returned to the right track, with multiple communication mechanisms restored and newly established, achieving positive outcomes in areas such as diplomacy, security, trade, finance, finance, military, drug control, law enforcement, agriculture, climate change, and culture. On the date, the China-US Drug Control Cooperation Working Group was officially launched in Beijing.

At the Lima meeting, President Xi Jinping summarized the past year's Sino-US relations: despite the ups and downs, under the leadership of the heads of state, fruitful dialogues and cooperation have been conducted, achieving overall stability.

Lima Meeting: Against the special backdrop of the US power transition, it demonstrates China's stance on Sino-US relations. Recently, the US presidential election has concluded. In less than two months, the White House will change hands, and the United States will usher in the "Trump era." In this context, the words of China's top leader during the meeting with Biden were not only addressed to the outgoing Biden but also to the returning Trump.

From the press release, it appears that President Xi Jinping primarily conveyed four key messages to the U.S. side. He reiterated the importance of Sino-U.S. relations. Xi pointed out that as the most important bilateral relationship in the world, the stability and development of Sino-U.S. relations are not only crucial for the peoples of both countries but also for the future of humanity. Therefore, both sides should make wise choices based on the well-being of the peoples of both nations and the common interests of the international community, continuing to explore the correct way for the two major powers to coexist, achieving long-term peaceful coexistence between China and the United States on this planet.

Deeply Summarize the Lessons and Enlightenments of Sino-US Relations. Xi Jinping pointed out that the development of Sino-US relations has confirmed the experiences and enlightenments since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Specifically, there are seven points: first, to have a correct strategic understanding; second, to be trustworthy and act decisively; third, to treat each other as equals; fourth, not to challenge red lines and bottom lines; fifth, to engage in more dialogue and cooperation; sixth, to respond to the expectations of the people; and seventh, to demonstrate the responsibility of major countries. Past experiences tell us that the two different choices in Sino-US relations will lead to completely opposite results. If the two countries become partners and friends, seeking common ground while reserving differences and mutually achieving, the Sino-US relationship can develop sustainably. If they treat each other as rivals and enemies, engaging in vicious competition and mutual harm, the Sino-US relationship will encounter setbacks or even regress.

The Chinese side has demonstrated its sincerity towards the development of Sino-US relations. Regarding the development of Sino-US relations, President Xi Jinping mentioned "four unchanging aspects" during his meeting. Specifically, these are: the Chinese side's commitment to the stability, health, and sustainable development of Sino-US relations remains unchanged; the principle of handling Sino-US relations based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation remains unchanged; the stance of firmly safeguarding its own sovereignty, security, and development interests remains unchanged; and the desire to continue the traditional friendship between the peoples of China and the United States remains unchanged. President Xi Jinping reiterated that the Chinese side is willing to continue dialogue with the US government, expand cooperation, manage differences, and strive to achieve a smooth transition in Sino-US relations, benefiting the peoples of both countries.

Deeply pointing out the correct way for China and the United States to coexist. Xi Jinping emphasized that as two major countries in the world, China and the United States should prioritize global interests and inject certainty and provide positive energy into the currently turbulent world. The current world is in turmoil, with frequent conflicts, and both new and old issues are intertwining and resonating, presenting unprecedented challenges to humanity. Xi Jinping pointed out that great power competition should not be the defining characteristic of the era; unity and cooperation are the way to overcome difficulties together. Currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is emerging; "decoupling and breaking the chain" is not the solution; mutual benefit and cooperation are the way to achieve common development; "small yards and high walls" are not the actions of major countries; openness and sharing are the way to benefit humanity.

To Biden: Smooth Transition, Maintain Stability. U.S. policy towards China often exhibits a certain degree of continuity. It is hoped that following this summit, Biden can transform the agreements reached into a "ballast," to some extent counteracting the increasingly rampant anti-China rhetoric within the U.S. After all, having experienced three "Xi-Biden meetings" and developed four years of relations with China, Biden's understanding of Sino-U.S. relations is far deeper than that of the average American politician. We look forward to Biden establishing a "firewall" for Sino-U.S. relations during his remaining term, ensuring stability in bilateral relations during the transition of power.

To Trump: Take fewer detours and work together for mutual benefit. Although Trump made numerous harsh statements during his campaign and has recently appointed anti-China politicians like Rubio and Waltz in his personnel choices, we still hope that the "dormant" king, who is about to return to the White House after four years, can find the essence of Sino-US relations from the speeches of China's top leader and truly "understand" how to properly interact with China. Understanding that a stable, improving, and forward-moving Sino-US relationship is something that the people of both countries and the world at large would welcome. Understanding that China has interests that must be protected, principles that must be defended, and bottom lines that must be upheld, and to cease unreasonable suppression and containment. Understanding to view and handle Sino-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, avoiding unnecessary disruptions, provocations, and overstepping boundaries.

During the Lima meeting, the leaders of China and the United States reaffirmed the key consensus reached on the guiding principles for China-U.S. relations, which include mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, maintaining communication, preventing conflicts, adhering to the Charter of the United Nations, pursuing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, and responsibly managing the competitive aspects of bilateral relations. It is believed that under the guidance of these principles, "the China-U.S. relationship may not return to the past, but it can have a better future."