Perspectives on the importance of Xi-Biden summit

The fact that the summit is happening, yes, is an important development. It's always a good sign when people are talking rather than not talking. Summits are typically part of a process rather than being … a curable event that changes everything, a watershed moment. But I think it's good.

I'd be interested to read the readouts from both sides and see what they say … and then you … see if they are on the same page, so to speak, or are they saying different things?

That is an indication of whether there was a meeting of the minds. There are many things that are beyond the control of the leaders — yes, both of them. I would say even particularly on the US side because of the nature of the political system. So ... it's rather limited in what they can do but … from a government point of view for leaders to meet in this way, it's very encouraging.