for tens of thousands of drug overdose deaths in the us. and they also agreed to dialogue on artificial intelligence, people—to—people exchanges, and to boost flights between the nations. but the leaders are still at odds over taiwan, with xi calling it the "biggest and most dangerous issue" in bilateral ties. beijing considers it part of its territory, while the us maintains unofficial relations with the democratically self—governed island. here's what president biden had to say about the us relationship with china at the apec summit on thursday. let me be clear. we are de—risking and diversifying our relationship with the prc, not decoupling. not decoupling. we will be firm, standing up for our values and our interest, and i was very straightforward, as he was with me yesterday. at the same time, on critical global issues, such as climate, aia, counter narcotics, it makes sense to work together. we've committed to work together. we are going to continue our commitment to diplomacy to avoid surprises, prevent misunderstandings. and president xi also spoke about the importance of finding a way forward for the two nations. translation: for two large countries like _ translation: for two large countries like china - translation: for two large countries like china and - translation: for two large countries like china and the. countries like china and the united states, turning their back on each other is not an option. it is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other and conflict and confrontation is unbearable consequences for both sides. planet earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed, and one country's success is an opportunity for the other. the high—stakes summit marked a thaw in declining relations between the countries, that started with a spy balloon. relations grew rockier, following the us shooting down an alleged chinese spy balloon over its airspace in february, implementing new export controls over advance technologies and the us approving the sale of missile and other munitions for taiwan's fighter jets. however, things began to improve this summer, after visits to china by us secretary of state antony blinken injune, treasury secretary janet yellen in july, and a bipartisan congressional delegation in october. it led to the long—anticipated trip by china's top diplomat, wang yi, to washington just last month, to meet with senior administration officials. biden and xi last met on the side lines of the 620 summit in bali last year. the nearly three—hour long meeting ended with the two leaders having what mr biden called a "very blunt" discussion. so that is the timeline, that is the background for what we just saw this week at apec. for more now, let's bring in... gary locke, former us ambassador to china, former governor of washinton state and previous us commerce secretary. thank you so much for being here. coming into this meeting at apec, very low expectations for what might come out of the summit between the two leaders but we just heard, there was a fairly long list actually of agreements. what did you make of what we saw from this meeting between the two leaders?— meeting between the two leaders? ~ ., ~ ., leaders? well, thank you for havin: leaders? well, thank you for having me — leaders? well, thank you for having me on _ leaders? well, thank you for having me on your— leaders? well, thank you for i having me on your programme. leaders? well, thank you for - having me on your programme. it was a very important meeting, it was important that the two leaders meet, that they have those very frank and candid conversations, especially with elections in taiwan coming up, as well as our own presidential and congressional elections just a year away. i think people felt that just having the two leaders get together would be a success, because the relationship is pretty much at an all—time low, and by having this meeting, we could perhaps set a foundation and put in it under that relationship to keep it from deteriorating further, so it is really good news that they were able to reach agreements on some very important key issues. as you indicated, military to military communications among the highest levels, because if something dangerous begins to appear on the horizon in let's say the south china sea or the taiwan strait, we want to be able to communicate directly with the chinese military leaders, and not somejunior bureaucrat in the chinese embassy in washington, dc, and of course the agreement to really look at the ingredients that make up fentanyl, which are coming from china, going into drug cartels in mexico and south america, then being manufactured into fentanyl. manufactured into fenta nyl. that manufactured into fentanyl. that is very important for the american people, so the list goes on and on. so it was a very good meeting in a good foundation because if we can have collaboration and communication on a few key topics, then that makes it possible to have further dialogue, collaboration and partnerships on even more complex issues.— complex issues. let's talk about one _ complex issues. let's talk about one of _ complex issues. let's talk about one of those - complex issues. let's talk about one of those com i complex issues. let's talk i about one of those com plex issues, that is of course the issues, that is of course the issue of taiwan. president xi called it "the biggest and most dangerous issue facing the two countries". database summit to do enough to try to ease tensions when it comes to the complex issue of day one? i’m complex issue of day one? i'm re complex issue of day one? i'm pretty sure _ complex issue of day one? i'm pretty sure that _ complex issue of day one? i“n pretty sure that president biden made it pretty clear that the united states under both democratic and republican president since the recognition of china under president carter, that we believe in a one nation china. we continue to provide arms to taiwan but it is resolved peacefully and not by military force by the mainland. so i'm sure the president reiterated our one china policy, recognising that beijing is the sovereign nation under taiwan and we don't seek independence, we are neutral on that issue. it is up to the taiwan people and the people of china. i taiwan people and the people of china. , ., ., _, taiwan people and the people of china. , ., ., . ~ china. i 'ust want to come back to that china. ijust want to come back to that agreement _ china. ijust want to come back to that agreement to _ china. ijust want to come back to that agreement to stamp . china. i just want to come back. to that agreement to stamp some of the ingredients being used to make fenta nyl of the ingredients being used to make fentanyl here in the us that are coming from china. now china has promised something similar in the past to stop those precursor chemicals. do you think that china will keep its word this time around? i think china very much understand the importance of this issue to america and of course they want better economic relations with america. the economy in china is troubled. there is very high unemployment, a lot of social unrest and discontent among the working people and people who have lostjobs, and especially people coming out of the high schools and the colleges. foreign investment into china has dropped dramatically, and so china is trying to bring back and woo western companies to set up operations to manufacture things that are designed specifically for the chinese people, and that creates jobs for the chinese people. so it is in china's best interest to have better relations with america, and of course one of our key priorities is stopping the flow of chemicals from china, which then are used to make fentanyl, and it is used by the drug cartels in south america and in mexico, and so they know how important this is. so the fact they are putting together groups to really try to address this is a really good sign. ambassador, stay where you are, we will come back to you in just a second but we will dive a bit deeper now into that issue of fentanyl. as we mentioned there, presidents biden and xi reached an agreement this week to "significantly curb" the flow of fenta nyl into the us. china agreed to directly pursue specific chemical companies that make the materials used to produce the synthetic opioid. us officials have argue china's vast chemical industry played a key role in america's fentanyl crisis by supplying the compounds used in illegal drug labs, including in mexico, which is now the largest exporter of fenta nyl to the united states. before 2019, china was the primary source of fentanyl coming into the country. last year, over 107,000 people in the us died from drug—related overdoses, and nearly two—thirds of those reported deaths involved synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, according to the center for disease control and prevention. however, chinese government officials have denied it plays a significant role in the us drug crisis. let's ta ke let's take a bit deeper now on this big week of diplomacy including what happened on this agreement with fentanyl. still with us is gary locke, former us ambassador to china. and we can bring in wendy cutler — she served as the deputy us trade representative under president 0bama and is currently vice president of asia society policy institute. wendy, welcome to you. thank you forjoining us. ijust want to start, because there was this big dinner as well, despite —— besides the diplomacy between the two leaders there was plenty of business diplomacy, i guess if you want to call this as well, and you were at this dinner that president xi held with american ceos. you actually said, wendy, that nobody expected to hear the speech that xi gave. what did you make of the message he gave to american business leaders? in some ways, it was a missed opportunity because as ambassador locke stated, the chinese — ambassador locke stated, the chinese economy is in trouble. they— chinese economy is in trouble. they are — chinese economy is in trouble. they are not only not attracting foreign investment, they— attracting foreign investment, they are — attracting foreign investment, they are losing foreign investment, so this dinner was a real— investment, so this dinner was a real opportunity for xi jinping _ a real opportunity for xi jinping to lay out the case for measures_ jinping to lay out the case for measures and stops he was going to take _ measures and stops he was going to take to— measures and stops he was going to take to ensure the business climate — to take to ensure the business climate would improve. instead he gave — climate would improve. instead he gave a — climate would improve. instead he gave a very high level speech— he gave a very high level speech really aimed at emphasising the notion and his view_ emphasising the notion and his view that— emphasising the notion and his view that china is not a threat, _ view that china is not a threat, that china is not interested in war, that china wants— interested in war, that china wants to _ interested in war, that china wants to increase and solidify people — wants to increase and solidify people to people ties, but he made — people to people ties, but he made very little mention of the market. — made very little mention of the market, orany made very little mention of the market, or any economic issues, frankly — market, or any economic issues, frankl. , , ., frankly. gary, 'ust to come back to frankly. gary, 'ust to come backto you _ frankly. gary, just to come back to you quickly, - frankly. gary, just to come back to you quickly, how . frankly. gary, just to come - back to you quickly, how much do you think china's weaker economy affected some of the way that we saw xi behaving this week and some of the agreements that ended up being made? was his hand just not as strong as it might have been three or four years strong as it might have been three orfour years ago? ida. three or four years ago? no, not at all- — three or four years ago? no, not at all. i _ three or four years ago? no, not at all. i think _ three or four years ago? no, not at all. i think it's - three or four years ago? no, not at all. i think it's a - not at all. i think it's a matter of trying to develop closer relations with the united states, and it is something that we want as well, because our economies are so intertwined, and millions and millions ofjobs on both sides of the pacific depend on trade between the two countries. for instance, china is america's number one export destination for our agricultural goods, and china, with its growing middle class, very much wants american products which are known for high quality, safety, purity, whether it is food or medical devices, and even environmental technology. so having better economic relations with the united states means jobs economic relations with the united states meansjobs for the chinese people and we recognise that it also means jobs for the american people. i was at that dinner as well and i agree with wendy, that the president of china could have announced more specific measures on how he is going to and how china will welcome foreign companies, american companies into china, but he was also having to play to his own domestic audience, and you know, he made specific comments with respect to one american sector. 0ther with respect to one american sector. other sectors would say what about us. so yes, he tried to say that china welcomes american companies, that china needs american companies, but yes, he could have been more specific. i think we are going to have to look for those specifics down the road and in the future. i specifics down the road and in the future-— the future. i want to bring up another interesting _ the future. i want to bring up another interesting momentl the future. i want to bring up - another interesting moment that we had during this diplomatic exchange, and this was when president biden was asked by a reporter at the end of his press conference about specifically xi jinping. press conference about specifically xijinping. let's take a listen. mr president, after today would you still— mr president, after today would you still refer— mr president, after today would you still refer to _ mr president, after today would you still refer to xi _ mr president, after today would you still refer to xi jinping - you still refer to xi jinping as a — you still refer to xi jinping as a dictator? _ well, he is. he's a dictator, in the sense that he is a guy who runs a country that is a communist country, that is based on a form of government totally different that ours. what did you make of that moment? we saw this viral video of secretary blinken reacting. what did you make of what biden said? ., ., ~' what did you make of what biden said? ., ., ~ , , ., said? look, the president had had a long _ said? look, the president had had a long day. _ said? look, the president had had a long day, and _ said? look, the president had had a long day, and my - said? look, the president had had a long day, and my view i said? look, the president had| had a long day, and my view is that_ had a long day, and my view is that both — had a long day, and my view is that both leaders have different audiences they are trying — different audiences they are trying to play to. ambassador locke — trying to play to. ambassador locke just said that even for the ceo _ locke just said that even for the ceo dinner, she had to be -- ten — the ceo dinner, she had to be -- ten one _ the ceo dinner, she had to be —— ten one had to be mindful of how— —— ten one had to be mindful of how his — —— ten one had to be mindful of how his comments had to be interpreted at home and i think that president biden was trying tojust — that president biden was trying tojust make it clear that even if they— tojust make it clear that even if they had a constructive and a frank— if they had a constructive and a frank and for our meeting together, _ a frank and for our meeting together, that does not mean that we — together, that does not mean that we think that xi jinping, doesn't _ that we think that xi jinping, doesn't mean that xi jinping is the kind — doesn't mean that xi jinping is the kind of leader that a democracy produces. the kind of leader that a democra roduces. �* , ., democracy produces. ambassador, there are two _ democracy produces. ambassador, there are two different _ democracy produces. ambassador, there are two different things - there are two different things at play here. how do you think he took that comment from the us president? i’m he took that comment from the us president?— he took that comment from the us president? i'm sure they did not like that _ us president? i'm sure they did not like that comment - us president? i'm sure they did not like that comment at - us president? i'm sure they did not like that comment at all. not like that comment at all but president biden is pointing out the fact that we really have two different political systems. china is not a democracy, it is run by the communist party. president xi jinping has changed the constitution so he can basically be ruler for life and it's very autocratic, dictatorial type of government. a very top—down government in which there is really no congress and everything comes from and emanates from president xi. that is very different from what we have in the west and, certainly, here in america. it's president biden was very correct to basically say it's a very autocratic type of government. us republicans generally take a bit of a tougher line on china, especially in recent years, the last debate between presidential candidate called china number one threat to the us. earlierwe china number one threat to the us. earlier we asked a representative from illinois about the republican view ahead of the apec conference and here is what he said. i of the apec conference and here is what he said.— is what he said. i think there is what he said. i think there is a lot of— is what he said. i think there is a lot of distrust _ is what he said. i think there is a lot of distrust in - is what he said. i think there is a lot of distrust in the - is a lot of distrust in the congress _ is a lot of distrust in the congress as— is a lot of distrust in the congress as it _ is a lot of distrust in the congress as it relates i is a lot of distrust in the congress as it relates to is a lot of distrust in the . congress as it relates to xi jinping _ congress as it relates to xi jinping and _ congress as it relates to xi jinping and the _ congress as it relates to xi jinping and the ccp - congress as it relates to xi jinping and the ccp and i congress as it relates to xil jinping and the ccp and that distrust— jinping and the ccp and that distrust is— jinping and the ccp and that distrust is based _ jinping and the ccp and that distrust is based on- jinping and the ccp and that distrust is based on a i jinping and the ccp and that. distrust is based on a number of things _ distrust is based on a number of things. china's _ distrust is based on a number of things. china's blatant i of things. china's blatant support— of things. china's blatant support for— of things. china's blatant support for vladimir- of things. china's blatantl support for vladimir putin of things. china's blatant i support for vladimir putin in the invasion— support for vladimir putin in the invasion of— support for vladimir putin in the invasion of ukraine i support for vladimir putin in the invasion of ukraine but i the invasion of ukraine but secondly— the invasion of ukraine but secondly the _ the invasion of ukraine but secondly the continued i the invasion of ukraine butl secondly the continued wolf warrior— secondly the continued wolf warrior diplomacy— secondly the continued wolf warrior diplomacy that- secondly the continued wolf. warrior diplomacy that china, you know. _ warrior diplomacy that china, you know, spews— warrior diplomacy that china, you know, spews around i warrior diplomacy that china, you know, spews around thei you know, spews around the world — you know, spews around the worid i_ you know, spews around the world. ithink— you know, spews around the world. i think also _ you know, spews around the world. i think also getting i you know, spews around the world. i think also getting to the origins _ world. i think also getting to the origins of— world. i think also getting to the origins of covid - world. i think also getting to the origins of covid and i world. i think also getting to| the origins of covid and what happens _ the origins of covid and what happens there. _ the origins of covid and what happens there. we - the origins of covid and what happens there. we have i the origins of covid and what happens there. we have thisj happens there. we have this obviously— happens there. we have this obviously terrible _ happens there. we have this obviously terrible epidemic i happens there. we have thisl obviously terrible epidemic as related — obviously terrible epidemic as related to _ obviously terrible epidemic as related to covid _ obviously terrible epidemic as related to covid but _ obviously terrible epidemic as related to covid but you i obviously terrible epidemic as related to covid but you are l related to covid but you are not going _ related to covid but you are not going to _ related to covid but you are not going to prevent - related to covid but you are not going to prevent a i related to covid but you are i not going to prevent a future epidemic— not going to prevent a future epidemic when— not going to prevent a future epidemic when you - not going to prevent a future epidemic when you don't i not going to prevent a future i epidemic when you don't know the origins _ epidemic when you don't know the origins of— epidemic when you don't know the origins of this _ epidemic when you don't know the origins of this one. - the origins of this one. fourth, _ the origins of this one. fourth, i_ the origins of this one. fourth, i would - the origins of this one. fourth, i would say- the origins of this one. | fourth, i would say the manipulation— fourth, i would say the manipulation of- fourth, i would say the manipulation of the i fourth, i would say the i manipulation of the world fourth, i would say the - manipulation of the world trade organization— manipulation of the world trade organization and _ manipulation of the world trade organization and the _ manipulation of the world trade organization and the theft i manipulation of the world trade organization and the theft of i organization and the theft of intellectual— organization and the theft of intellectual property- organization and the theft of i intellectual property continues to he — intellectual property continues to he an — intellectual property continues to be an issue _ intellectual property continues to be an issue so, _ intellectual property continues to be an issue so, and - intellectual property continues to be an issue so, and lastly. intellectual property continues to be an issue so, and lastly ii to be an issue so, and lastly i would — to be an issue so, and lastly i would say— to be an issue so, and lastly i would say the _ to be an issue so, and lastly i would say the balloon - to be an issue so, and lastly i would say the balloon flying i would say the balloon flying over— would say the balloon flying over the _ would say the balloon flying over the us _ would say the balloon flying over the us earlier- would say the balloon flying over the us earlier this i would say the balloon flyingj over the us earlier this year has — over the us earlier this year has left _ over the us earlier this year has left a _ over the us earlier this year has left a bad _ over the us earlier this year has left a bad taste - over the us earlier this year has left a bad taste in i over the us earlier this year has left a bad taste in the l has left a bad taste in the mouth— has left a bad taste in the mouth of— has left a bad taste in the mouth of many— has left a bad taste in the mouth of many in- has left a bad taste in the mouth of many in the i has left a bad taste in the i mouth of many in the united states— mouth of many in the united states as _ mouth of many in the united states as it— mouth of many in the united states as it relates - mouth of many in the united states as it relates to - mouth of many in the united states as it relates to china i states as it relates to china so what _ states as it relates to china so what i _ states as it relates to china so what i would _ states as it relates to china so what i would be - states as it relates to china so what i would be lookingl states as it relates to china i so what i would be looking for is what — so what i would be looking for is what tangible _ so what i would be looking for is what tangible actions i so what i would be looking for is what tangible actions is i is what tangible actions is china _ is what tangible actions is china and _ is what tangible actions is china and xi _ is what tangible actions is china and xi jinping i is what tangible actions is china and xi jinping goingj is what tangible actions is i china and xi jinping going to take — china and xi jinping going to take to _ china and xi jinping going to take to remedy— china and xi jinping going to take to remedy the - china and xi jinping going to take to remedy the current i take to remedy the current relationship _ take to remedy the current relationship with— take to remedy the current relationship with china? i take to remedy the current i relationship with china? there are many— relationship with china? there are many members— relationship with china? there are many members of- relationship with china? there . are many members of congress, both— are many members of congress, both republican _ are many members of congress, both republican and _ are many members of congress, both republican and democrat, i both republican and democrat, it would — both republican and democrat, it would prefer— both republican and democrat, it would prefer to _ both republican and democrat, it would prefer to a _ both republican and democrat, it would prefer to a cold - both republican and democrat, it would prefer to a cold war. it would prefer to a cold war mentality _ it would prefer to a cold war mentality with _ it would prefer to a cold war mentality with china. - it would prefer to a cold war mentality with china.- mentality with china. darin lahood speaking _ mentality with china. darin lahood speaking earlier. mentality with china. darin lahood speaking earlier to | lahood speaking earlier to caitriona perry and wendy, to bring you back in, what did you make of those comments when it came to china's role in the conflict in ukraine?- came to china's role in the conflict in ukraine? when i listen to — conflict in ukraine? when i listen to those _ conflict in ukraine? when i listen to those comments, | conflict in ukraine? when i| listen to those comments, i also — listen to those comments, i also hear— listen to those comments, i also hear president biden saying _ also hear president biden saying trust but verify. i think— saying trust but verify. i think biden and his team are clear— think biden and his team are clear eyed going into this meeting but i think it is important to engage with the second — important to engage with the second largest economy in the world — second largest economy in the world. we are both on the planet— world. we are both on the planet and we need to engage. it planet and we need to engage. it does — planet and we need to engage. it does not mean we are going to see — it does not mean we are going to see eye _ it does not mean we are going to see eye to eye on the whole set of — to see eye to eye on the whole set of issues. in fact, tensions are going to continue, whether— tensions are going to continue, whether it _ tensions are going to continue, whether it be in respect to taiwan, _ whether it be in respect to taiwan, the south china sea, two _ taiwan, the south china sea, two russia—ukraine border, even the middle east. but we need to engage — the middle east. but we need to engage in areas where we may have _ engage in areas where we may have shared views or we can co—operate, let's go ahead and do it— co—operate, let's go ahead and do it but— co—operate, let's go ahead and do it but we should do it in a very— do it but we should do it in a very clear— do it but we should do it in a very clear eyed manner and hold china's_ very clear eyed manner and hold china's feet to the fire to make _ china's feet to the fire to make sure that they live up to any commitments that are made, including — any commitments that are made, including at the summit. ambassador, didjoe biden hold ambassador, did joe biden hold china's feet to the fire enough? some republicans may say the administration could have taken an even tougher line. i have taken an even tougher line. ., . ~ , line. i think that wendy cutler is absolutely _ line. i think that wendy cutler is absolutely correct. - line. i think that wendy cutler is absolutely correct. the i is absolutely correct. the president is basically taking an approach of trust but verify and for instance, the president has not ruled back the tariffs imposed by president trump. in fact, underthe imposed by president trump. in fact, under the biden administration there are more restrictions on us goods going to china, semiconductors, advanced chips that even the equipment that could be used by china to make their own advanced chips to the biden administration is trying to be administration is trying to be a lot more surgical in approaching these trade issues, especially where it may be items that china could use to beef up its military and to be a threat to our national security and at the same time, the chinese know that if they were to provide direct military assistance to russia in the conflict with ukraine, that sanctions will follow. china has seen what the european union, european nations and the united states have done with respect to sanctioning russia, so they don't want that to happen either. i think the biden administration has been portraying a very tough, rigid but very clear set of conditions on china and unless they substantially improve their record on whether it is intellectual property enforcement, removing government subsidies from their companies, thereby preventing a level playing field, you will see the biden administration continued to keep many of these tough measures in place. wendy, we have about _ tough measures in place. wendy, we have about 30 _ tough measures in place. wendy, we have about 30 seconds i tough measures in place. wendy, we have about 30 seconds but i tough measures in place. wendy, j we have about 30 seconds but we want to come back to you and we saw images there ofjohn kerry, the special climate envoy, shaking hands with president xi. how big a deal was this to co—ordinate efforts on methane and renewables ahead of the next climate summit in dubai? i think it's extremely important. ithink— think it's extremely important. i think the _ think it's extremely important. i think the world needs to see the us— i think the world needs to see the us and china cooperating on climate — the us and china cooperating on climate because if we don't, all of— climate because if we don't, all of the _ climate because if we don't, all of the other countries are going — all of the other countries are going to _ all of the other countries are going to say, "why should we do anything?" — going to say, "why should we do anything?" sol going to say, "why should we do anything?" so i think having some — anything?" so i think having some important deliverables on climate — some important deliverables on climate in — some important deliverables on climate in the weeks before the cop meeting is critical and i applaud _ cop meeting is critical and i applaud senator kerry forjust being — applaud senator kerry forjust being so— applaud senator kerry forjust being so persistent in working on this— being so persistent in working on this issue closely with the chinese _ on this issue closely with the chinese counterpart to produce some _ chinese counterpart to produce some deliverables here. wendy cutler, served _ some deliverables here. wendy cutler, served as _ some deliverables here. wendy cutler, served as a _ some deliverables here. wendy cutler, served as a deputy i some deliverables here. wendy cutler, served as a deputy us l cutler, served as a deputy us trade representative under 0bama and ambassador gary locke former us ambassador to china, thank you so much to you both. thank you. thank you so much to you both. thank you-— one of the areas of renewed relations we've been discussing is biden and xi's agreement to restart military communications. to talk about what that means for the relationship, i spoke to former acting director of the cia, michael morell. __my ——my colleague caitriona perry spoke to. thank you indeed forjoining us on bbc news. we heard this week both president biden and president xi talking about not letting international competition spill into conflict. how have the various meetings and interactions this week gone? have they done anything to tip or stabilise the relationship? i anything to tip or stabilise the relationship?- anything to tip or stabilise the relationship? i think the important — the relationship? i think the important outcome - the relationship? i think the important outcome of i the relationship? i think the important outcome of the l the relationship? i think the i important outcome of the summit was the fact that we going to continue to talk and, most importantly, we're going to start talking again in military channels. that's important because it allows them in a difficult situation, and a time breaking situation, and a time breaking situation, in a crisis situation, in a crisis situation to dampen tensions. so, you want military to military communications. so, that's the most important thing to me that came out of this week. what i would say is that both sides, both sides for some time now, have wanted to dampen the rhetoric. both sides have wanted to reduce tension. and there has been a number of meetings now going back over nine months or so between cabinet officials on both sides and you know, coming together now in a meeting between biden and president xi and all of thatis and president xi and all of that is positive. but what hasn't happened, katrina, there hasn't happened, katrina, there has been no change in the underlying structure of the relationship which created those tensions in the first place. there's been no change in chinese theft of intellectual property for example, no change in the chinese crushing dissidents both at home and increasingly, abroad, including in the west, including in the united states. there has been no change in chinese behaviour in the south china sea. so, the rhetoric is being dampened but it will return with certainty. what are trust levels — return with certainty. what are trust levels like? _ return with certainty. what are trust levels like? you - return with certainty. what are trust levels like? you know, i return with certainty. what are trust levels like? you know, is| trust levels like? you know, is mutual spying still part of the relationship? oi mutual spying still part of the relationship?— relationship? of course. of course. _ relationship? of course. of course, right? _ relationship? of course. of course, right? and - relationship? of course. of course, right? and there i relationship? of course. of- course, right? and there always will be. spying is, you know, goes way back in history, you know, and that will continue. but there are norms, right? there are norms about what is acceptable and what is not in spying, acceptable and what is not in spying, right? for example, i just talked about the chinese theft of intellectual property, right? that's outside the norms, right? united states has never stolen intellectual property from our competitors and given them to our companies to give them a competitive advantage, right? that's what china does every day. that's outside the norms. so, while spying will continue, right, there are some types of spine which are unacceptable and should be unacceptable. 50. should be unacceptable. so, what does — should be unacceptable. so, what does that _ should be unacceptable. so, what does that do _ should be unacceptable. so, what does that do for the trust between the two nations, then? so, i think more important than beginner, intelligence operations is the trust issue with regard to taiwan —— more important than, you know, intelligence. we think the chinese want to go and how the chinese want to go and how the chinese think about how the us would respond to any sort of military operation, chinese military operation, chinese military operation, chinese military operation against taiwan. that's where the real trust issues, you know, come home. that's what everybody has been thinking about for a number of years now and what everyone will continue to think about going forward. and finally, xijinping's connections to the us go back farther than you might imagine. back in 1985, he travelled as part of a delegation to muscatine, iowa, where he was received by sarah lande. here she is with xi jinping, who's on the far right of this photo. she's been in touch with him ever since. she spoke with the bbc�*s americast about xi's first visit and the iowan welcome he received. xijinping visited iowa in 1985 and in a small community, the way we express our hospitality is we share the food that we make ourselves. so, they stay in people's homes but he was invited to a potluck dinner at my house. then, everyone who was coming as our local guests bring their favourite meal and a casserole dish and together, that's what we served xi jinping and his delegation and it gave a true iowa meal. imagine that, a potluck dinner with the future president of china! i'm carl nasman. thank you for watching the special report. hello there. friday was a cold start for all of us across the country but it was certainly a day of contrasts. fog lingered in some places and that had quite an impact on the temperature — particularly in north east scotland with temperatures barely climbing above freezing by the middle part of the afternoon. it was a different story further south — some beautiful autumn sunshine to look out for and we had over seven hours of sunshine in parts of kent. but the weather story is set to change once again as we head into the weekend with this deep area of low pressure bringing some wet and windy weather with it. the isobars squeezing together, a blanket of cloud and rain pushing its way steadily east, so a spell of wet weather, particularly across south east england during the morning, slowly easing away to sunny spells and scattered showers into the afternoon, so certainly an improving picture across much of england and wales by saturday afternoon. mild with it, 1a or 15 degrees. a few scattered showers into northern england, more widespread through northern ireland and to scotland, accompanied by blustery winds. gales on exposed coasts here. but the temperatures certainly on the up in comparison to friday. double figures. we're looking at 9—12 degrees generally for scotland. now, as we move out of saturday into sunday, our area of low pressure just slowly drifts its way steadily eastward, so that means plenty of showers spiralling around that low and still strong winds. perhaps stronger winds down to the south. again, a relatively mild start, 7—10 degrees. a blustery start in the morning and that'll drive in plenty of showers from the west, so not everywhere will see those showers but they are going to be fairly widespread. perhaps drier interludes for scotland and maybe central and southern england as we go through the afternoon. temperatures likely to peak once again between 9 and 1a degrees. now, through sunday evening into the early hours of monday, we mightjust have to keep a close eye on this little front here. we could see a spell of very wet and windy weather across south west england for a time. once that clears away, however, high pressure is going to build across central and southern england as we move further ahead into the week. so, if you're after something a little drier, a little quieter, we will get that across england and wales. still the risk of some wet and windy weather at times further north and west. take care. the kind of leader that a democracy produces. voiceover: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk from washington, dc. i'm stephen sackur. this place is roughly 6,000 miles from gaza, but the aftershocks of the deadly israel—hamas war are being felt right here. joe biden says he has israel's back. but as the palestinian death toll mounts, so too do the president's political difficulties. he is now under enormous pressure in the middle east and in ukraine, too, to show what american leadership really means. my guest today is democratic party senator and loyal biden ally, chris coons. is president biden capable of rising to the challenge?