Biden Presser Turns Into A Mess
President Joe Biden wrapped up the 2023 Group of 20 summit on Sunday, ending a press conference in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi by frankly telling reporters he had to go to bed.
Biden had been participating in two days of meetings in New Delhi, India, at the G20 summit. During his visit to Vietnam, he entered a comprehensive strategic partnership with the country to renew U.S.-Vietnam relations.
As the press conference concluded, Biden was asked about his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, whom he met during the G20 summit this weekend. Biden said the conversation focused mainly on stability and making sure the Third World had access to change. He also clarified that the new partnership with Vietnam is not intended to isolate China.
“It’s not about isolating China. It’s about making sure the rules of the road – everything from airspace and space in the ocean and the international rules of the road – are abided by,” said Biden.
Biden also reiterated the importance of the relationship with China. “This is a critical moment. The United States has an interest in having a constructive relationship with China. We’ve worked for a long time to establish a collaborative and effective relationship with the Chinese government,” he said.
The 2023 G20 summit focused on collaboration to help promote global economic growth and address issues such as gender equality, health, education, employment rights, and inequality. Leaders of the world’s largest economies discussed how to strengthen global health security measures through preparedness, improving resilience, and developing seamless supply chains for health products.
The G20 summit also highlighted investment in people, climate, and technology, as well as tackling tax avoidance and reducing poverty. The leaders also agreed on cooperation on trade and investment and the use of innovation to boost economic growth.
At the conclusion of the summit, Biden said the U.S. would work with other countries to develop a new set of global standards. He also thanked the other world leaders for their participation in the G20 summit and their commitment to making progress.
“Throughout this summit, we’ve discussed the most pressing issues of our time, from global economic recovery to putting a stop to the pandemic to tackling climate change,” said Biden. “Now is the time for all of us to make a commitment and take collective action to creating a better, more secure, and more prosperous future for everyone.”