President Biden addressed the press after a lengthy meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside, California. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, aimed to address the deep tensions between the two countries and make progress on key objectives.

During his speech, President Biden emphasized the "real differences" between the United States and Beijing, while also highlighting the importance of smart policies and strong diplomacy in addressing these differences. The resumption of military-to-military communication between the two nations was a significant achievement, as it aimed to reduce the risk of miscalculation and potential conflict.

Furthermore, President Biden took the opportunity to showcase the strength of the U.S. economy and its positive impact on the Indo-Pacific region. He cited impressive statistics, such as the 4.9 percent growth of the American economy last quarter, unemployment rate below 4 percent for the past 21 months, and a 65 percent decrease in inflation. Despite these positive indicators, President Biden acknowledged the disconnect between these numbers and how people feel about their current situation.

The president also announced that American businesses had invested $40 billion into APEC economies this year, while encouraging other leaders to prioritize labor protections for workers. In line with this commitment, President Biden signed a presidential memorandum outlining his administration's dedication to workers' rights globally, including plans to use trade enforcement actions to promote labor rights.

In addition to economic discussions, President Biden participated in a planning lunch with leaders from other APEC economies, focusing on job creation, supply chain stability, and clean energy. He stressed that the impacts of climate change are disproportionately affecting developing countries, which contribute the least to the problem.

Despite the progress made during the meeting, one notable absence from the planned agenda was the announcement of substantial portions of a new trade pact. The Biden administration had pulled back on these plans after facing opposition from top Democratic lawmakers. This move highlights the complex domestic challenges that the administration faces in pursuing its foreign policy objectives.

The press conference also touched on President Biden's characterization of President Xi as a dictator. While reaffirming this belief, President Biden stated that he views Xi as the leader of a communist country with a different form of government than the United States. This comment drew criticism from the Chinese foreign ministry, with a spokeswoman calling it "extremely wrong."

However, at a later dinner with American billionaires and executives, President Xi expressed a desire for China to be a "partner and friend" to the United States, raising the question of whether the two nations are adversaries or partners.

In conclusion, President Biden's meeting with President Xi aimed to address the tensions between the United States and China. While progress was made on resuming military-to-military communication and cracking down on fentanyl production, challenges remain in areas such as trade and differing political systems. The press conference also highlighted the importance of the U.S. economy and labor protections, as well as the need for global collaboration in addressing climate change. The complex and multifaceted relationship between the two countries will continue to shape their interactions in the future.