“We are here to stay,” Joe Biden said Thursday during his inaugural speech to Asia-Pacific countries and business leaders gathered in San Francisco for an economic summit against a backdrop of rivalry between the United States and China.
“The United States is a Pacific power,” insisted the American president, who spoke for several hours on Wednesday with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
It was the first meeting between the two heads of state in a year, 12 months marked by major tensions.
“The president asked me why we are so involved in the Pacific,” Biden reported. “I told him: ‘It’s because we are a Pacific nation. Thanks to us, there is peace and security in the region, and therefore growth.” He did not show any disagreement.”
Faced with China, the United States is seeking to strengthen its alliances with the 21 countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which together account for 60% of the world economy.
On Wednesday evening, Joe Biden received the heads of state and government against a backdrop of fireworks, while Xi Jinping courted the American bosses.
Some 400 business leaders welcomed the Chinese president standing, with loud applause, according to an AFP journalist present at the dinner.
“China remains the most powerful engine of global growth,” Xi Jinping said in a speech written for the APEC CEO summit.
On Thursday, he met with his Peruvian counterpart, Dina Boluarte, to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Trade pact in default
Joe Biden, for his part, welcomed Thursday that companies from Asia-Pacific countries have invested “more than 200 billion dollars” in the United States since his arrival at the White House.
The Democrat assured Thursday that “tangible commitments were negotiated in record time” for a trade pact with 13 other countries in the region, including Japan, India, Australia, South Korea and a large part of Southeast Asia, excluding China.
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which does not offer market access, was launched last year by Washington to provide a “counterbalance” to China and “demonstrate that the United States is there and intend to stay,” according to Niels Graham, of the Atlantic Council think tank.
In practice, if the discussions on supply chains, the energy transition and the fight against corruption have largely succeeded, the project stumbles on the commercial aspect, due to a controversy within the Democratic Party over standards. of work.
“No one will be left behind,” promised Thursday the Democratic president, who will seek a second term in just under a year. The week’s progress will enable the IPEF to “create a race up, not down.”
Engaging in fierce competition, but preventing it from degenerating: Biden and Xi therefore immediately put into practice the promises made on Wednesday during their summit, which above all made it possible to renew dialogue.
The two men will now be able to pick up their phone and speak to each other “directly and immediately” in the event of a crisis, Joe Biden said.
Election campaign
Joe Biden also took advantage of the APEC platform to praise his record.
He highlighted his economic approach, supposed to allow the “poor to climb the social ladder”, while the middle class and the rich “continue to do well”.
“We are already seeing the results. Last quarter, the US economy grew 4.9% [en rythme annualisé]the highest growth rate in two years,” he said.
He also appealed to the unions, whose electoral support he hopes for 2024.
“Why do many of you [patrons d’entreprise] employ unionized workers? Because they are the best in the world,” he told the assembly, after recalling the recent “record” success of the American automobile union.
“My message to all of you, government and industry leaders, is that you can count on the United States, we keep our promises,” he concluded. “We will be your strong and reliable partner. »