Top U.S., China officials to meet next week in Alaska on range of issues

Top U.S. and Chinese officials will hold two days of talks next week in Alaska, the first in-person meeting between senior representatives of the two countries since President Biden took office, a senior administration official said.

"The goal will be to compare notes on what each of our hopes and plans are for domestic politics, what our goals are internationally, regionally and globally," the official said. Topics will include the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and issues of disagreement including China’s stance on Hong Kong and pressure on Taiwan, and the "undeclared economic embargoes" China has placed on Australia, the official said. The meeting will follow a virtual meeting President Biden will host Friday with other leaders of the so-called Quad, a strategic group seen as a bulwark against Chinese expansionism that includes Australia, Japan and India. Mr. Biden has stressed the importance of working with allies on a range of military, technology, trade and human-rights issues involving China.