US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have agreed to resume high-level military communications, according to officials and reports
China had severed this vital line after Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022. The US has been keen to restore it to avoid potential military clashes
The meeting at a historic estate near San Francisco marks the first time the rival leaders have spoken in person in more than a year
Relations plummeted when the US accused China of sending a spy balloon across its airspace earlier this year, but have since started improving
The world leaders were also expected to discuss the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, international trade, fentanyl trafficking, and Taiwan
On the topic of election interference, Biden says he told Xi he expected "no interference at all".
"We had that discussion as he was leaving," he said.
Biden is also asked about whether he "trusts" Xi.
"Do I trust? Trust, but verify, as the old saying goes," he says.
Biden pledges to "keep the lines of communications open, including between President Xi and me".
He says they will now both be able to "pick up the phone and be directly heard immediately".
Biden: US to resume direct contact with China's military
Secondly, Biden announces that military-to-military contacts will resume between the two countries.
"That's how accidents happen. Misunderstandings. So we're back to direct, open, clear communications on a direct basis."
Biden announces deal with China to reduce fentanyl flow
Biden has just begun speaking, saying he believes his conversations with Xi were "some of the most constructive and productive discussions we've had".
The two built off of high-level diplomacy work that has been going on for months, he says.
One major success of the conversations today was an agreement to tackle the flow of fentanyl to the US. The two sides are re-starting work to counter narcotics, he says.
"Today, with this new understanding, we're taking action to significantly reduce the flow of precursor chemicals and pill presses from China to the Western Hemisphere," Biden says. "It's going to save lives."
US President Joe Biden has started speaking. You can watch the livestream by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.
Gary O'Donoghue
BBC News, San Francisco
The Biden administration will be pleased with the outcome of this summit.
Repairing military to military communication channels does significantly lower the risks of confrontation over Taiwan in the South and East China Sea where American and Chinese military forces have been increasingly involved in regular, and potentially dangerous, encounters.
And a deal on curbing the chemicals used in fentanyl production - which is killing so many young Americans - is also an important domestic win for Biden as the US enters a presidential election year.
The pure fact that the meeting happened is also a sign of progress.
But we have been here before, and unforeseen events can derail these improvements in the blink of an eye.
We're about to hear from Joe Biden after his meeting with Xi Jinping.
You can livestream the US president's remarks by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.
We're still learning more about what was said during Biden's meetings with Xi today.
Stopping the flow of ingredients fuelling the fentanyl trade in the US was one major topic of discussion.
A senior administration official who spoke with US media said that Biden told Xi fentanyl is "one of the worst drug problems the United States has ever faced".
The two worked intensively on a plan for China to take action against specific companies that make precursors for fentanyl, the official said.
The US will be watching to see whether China continues to follow up in this plan, but these are "important steps", the official said.
Biden thought this was the "most important, central thing" to address in US-China relations for the sake of the American people, the official added.
Image source, Getty ImagesBiden just announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he's concluded his day of meetings with President Xi Jinping.
He says the conversations were "some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had".
"We built on groundwork laid over the past several months of diplomacy between our countries and made important progress," he wrote on X, external.
Xi Jinping told Joe Biden that Taiwan was the "biggest, most potentially dangerous issue" in US-China relations, according to a senior US official who briefed CBS, BBC's US news partner.
The official said Xi was trying to indicate that China is not preparing for a massive invasion of Taiwan, but had talked about "conditions in which force could be used".
Xi reiterated that China's preference was for peaceful "reunification" with the self-ruled island of Taiwan - a position it has long spoken about.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and "take real actions to honor its commitment of not supporting 'Taiwan independence' ".
"China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable," she wrote.
More on the Chinese readout carried by state media.
It says the two leaders agreed in establishing dialogues and working groups on artificial intelligence and anti-drug cooperation.
US media outlets had earlier said these would likely be announced. The Americans have been especially keen on getting China to help stop the flow of ingredients fueling the fentanyl trade in the US.
We also have more details on the military agreements. The communications restored between the two militaries were done so on "the basis of equality and respect".
Dialogue mechanisms and work meetings covering foreign affairs, maritime military security, and military theatre leadership have also been established.
They have agreed to increase flights and international student exchanges between their two countries, as well as expand exchanges in education, youth, culture, sports and business.
China has been vocal in calling for more "people to people" relations.
We're now getting some lines from the meeting, which Chinese state media said lasted about two hours.
A readout posted by state broadcaster CCTV says that, among other things, the two countries have agreed to resume high-level communication between their militaries.
This was high on the Americans' wishlist - China had cut off this important dialogue mechanism after Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022.
Stay with us as we bring you more from the readout.
Sarah Smith
North America editor reporting from San Francisco
Image source, Getty ImagesPresident Biden is expected to say he wants China to use its increasing influence with Iran to make clear that it should not take any provocative actions in the Middle East that could provoke a wider regional war.
On Ukraine, he will warn against any move by China to provide Russia with deadly military equipment.
One important thing America wants to achieve is re-establishing military communications. Allowing their generals to talk to each other could be crucial in making sure that misunderstandings do not become dangerous flashpoints.
After the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon in February, officials in Beijing would not answer a call from the US defence secretary.
The biggest point of contention, however, is Taiwan.
China broke off military communications after the visit to the self-governing island by then House speaker Nancy Pelosi last year. More recently, a Pentagon report said that China is significantly building up its stocks of nuclear weapons and taking increasingly dangerous actions to deter US forces in the region.
Once again, avoiding a further deterioration in relations over Taiwan could be considered a victory of sorts.
There is also the matter of economics and trade to discuss. This includes America's ban on the export of certain sophisticated semi-conductor chips to China.
Additionally, on the agenda will be American complaints about Chinese-made fentanyl that US authorities say is flooding the country, and warnings against China attempting to interfere in next year's US presidential election.
Biden believes his decades-long track record in foreign affairs and personal relationships with leaders around the world make him uniquely placed to defuse global tensions. This meeting will be a significant test of that.
You can read more analysis here.
Stephen McDonell
China correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesFor Xi Jinping, what is paramount is what happens at home. It is the images of him on Chinese media showing a strong figure dealing with the Americans that will be of crucial importance.
This year, two of his most high-profile appointees - the foreign minister and the defence minister - were removed without explanation. His judgement is seen as having been tarnished because he selected these men and yet they had to be taken down.
Then there was the purge of Rocket Force generals, leading to an overhaul of who is in charge of the country's nuclear missiles.
Rumours have been swirling around about why those at the top of this elite nuclear unit were replaced but, whatever the reason, this has further fuelled the impression that all is not well in the upper echelons of the Communist Party.
All of this came off the back of Xi suddenly abandoning his hugely unpopular 'Zero Covid' policy at the end of last year, after protests started breaking out across the country calling for an end to the widespread restrictions on people's movements. It led to an unknown death toll as the virus exploded.
Added to that, the once seemingly unstoppable machine of the Chinese economy is spluttering and stalling with record-high youth unemployment, tech sector layoffs and a housing crisis.
Some good news about China's relations with the other world superpower would not go astray. Even better if it leads to more trade.
You can read more analysis here.
Fan Wang
Singapore reporter
Chinese state media completely changed its tone in the lead-up to the Biden-Xi meeting.
The usual anti-US rhetoric was put on pause as outlets pushed propaganda messages about engagement and cooperation.
But Chinese social media has been less forgetful about the past five years of hawkish and bitter US coverage from state media.
Many have mocked the sudden shift in attitude.
“Love or hate is just a difference in a moment,” a user wrote on Weibo.
“Are we no longer anti-America now?” another commentor posted with a smirking face.
Some are still warning against the “potential US infiltration”.
“Americans are good at letting your guards down and stabbing you while you are at sleep. We for sure won’t let they fool us,” a person said on Weibo.
Max Matza
Reporting from San Francisco
Entering the main Apec conference hall requires passing through two separate security checkpoints which are being manned by the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and a variety of California law enforcement agencies.
Over two dozen items are banned from entering the complex.
Glass and metal water bottles are banned, due to the danger of them being used as a projectile. But confusingly metal water bottles are being given away for free once you get inside.
Despite the rain in the forecast, umbrellas are also banned. Dozens of confiscated umbrellas sit in a box at the first security checkpoint.
Selfie sticks are banned – mine was confiscated – but camera crews are allowed in with tripods and other equipment.
Other items formally banned include ammunition, laser pointers, toy guns and signs and placards.
Brandon Livesay
US reporter
We've just had an update from the White House, which says US President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China are having a working lunch together.
For all the foodies out there, they provided us the menu:
For those at home interested in what I had for lunch, it was chicken shawarma from a food cart outside our New York office, a strong 7.5/10.
Meanwhile Max Matza, our reporter in San Francisco, had a $20 chicken and rice plate which he tells me was "gross".
Sarah Smith
North America editor reporting from San Francisco
Biden to Xi: 'It's paramount we understand each other'
It's good to talk. That could be the motto for this meeting.
There will not be any big announcements at the end of these talks. No agreements signed.
Having two of the most powerful presidents in the world speaking to each other is a diplomatic achievement in itself. If they can agree to keep in touch that could be considered a success.
As the meeting began Biden told Xi: "I value our conversation because I think it's paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication."
Biden hopes that one outcome of this meeting will be renewed military communications between America and China.
There has been no contact since Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year. Which meant that when the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon in February, the Pentagon couldn’t get anyone to pick up the phone in Beijing.
Without channels of communication there is a risk that misunderstandings could accidently spiral in conflict – which neither side wants.
“Conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides” said Xi. He also noted that the US-China relationship has "never been smooth sailing".
Both leaders acknowledge that they have many and varied disagreements but both want to try to improve their relationship.
Consensus is unlikely. Agreeing to disagree, peacefully, is the goal.
Brandon Livesay
US reporter
We've answered all of the audience questions we received so far, and there's been some great insight from our correspondents. A big thanks to those readers who got in touch with us.
And just as we answered the final question, US President Joe Biden shared a message on social media., external
Quote MessageI value the conversation I had today with President Xi because I think it's paramount that we understand each other clearly, leader to leader. There are critical global challenges that demand our joint leadership. And today, we made real progress."
John Sudworth
North America Correspondent
Our final question comes from Jan Weinberg, from the US state of New Jersey. Jan wants to know about a report , externalauthored by a Congressional committee which discusses the strategic posture of the US.
The Commission Jan mentions raised the threat from China’s growing nuclear proliferation and recommended the US upgrade its own nuclear deterrent in response.
Going into this summit, President Biden spoke of his wish to restore normal military-to-military communications with China – essential to avoid misunderstandings escalating into real crises.
Beijing closed those channels in a fit of pique after the then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year.
There are already signs of some improvement – last week, for the first time in almost a decade, the two sides met in Washington for discussions about their nuclear arsenals.
Whether Xi and Biden discuss the matter personally, observers see little hope of any new breakthrough on arms control.
We live, once again, in an era of great power competition; China is intent on increasing its stockpile, Russia has withdrawn from the test ban treaty, and the US is now talking of having to face “two nuclear-capable, strategic peer adversaries at the same time".