China’s Xi Welcomes Gavin Newsom in Beijing With Eye on U.S. Visit

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, part of a Chinese charm offensive that appears to be laying the groundwork for Xi to meet with President Biden in San Francisco next month.

China rolled out a red-carpet welcome for Newsom, who is on a weeklong trip in the country promoting cooperation on climate change. The California Democrat took meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng earlier on Wednesday before his audience with Xi in the afternoon.

“I’m here with an open hand, not a closed fist,” said Newsom at a press briefing after the meeting, a nod to simmering tensions between the U.S. and China.