a handshake between global heavy—weights as the presidents of the us and china seek to repair frosty relations. we'll look at the points of cooperation and continued tension between the two countries. welcome to this bbc special report exploring the changing relationship between us and china. what it means for security, trade, and other key global issues. at this week's high stakes meeting between presidentsjoe biden and xijinping, the two leaders sought to ease tensions after years of increased acrimony. washington and beijing agreed to resume high—level military communications channels, meaning the return of meetings and conversations between commanders. china had suspended some channels in protest to then—speaker nancy pelosi's visit to taiwan last year.

the us and china agreed to slow the production of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of drug overdose deaths in the us. and they 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, not decoupling. we will be firm, standing up for our values and our interests, and i was very

straightforward, as he was with me yesterday, and at the same time, with critical global issues such as climate, aia, narcotics, it makes sense to work together and we have committed to work together. we will continue our commitment to diplomacy, to avoid surprises and 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 china and the united states, turning the back on each other is not an option, it is unrealistic to one side to remodel the other and conflict has 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 to china 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 quote �*very blunt�* discussion.

earlier i spoke to gary larkin, who was previously the previous, secretary. very low expectations for what might kind — what might come out of these two meetings, but there was a long list of agreements, what did you make of what we saw of this meeting? it was a very important meeting, it was important that the two leaders meet, that they have those frank and candid conversations, especially with elections coming up in taiwan and our own presidentialjust and our own presidential just one and our own presidentialjust one year away. i think people feltjust having the two leaders get together would a success because the relationship is at an all—time low and by having this meeting, we could perhaps set a foundation for a net under that relationship to keep it from deteriorating further so it was

good news that they will to reach agreement on some very important, key issues as indicated, military to military communications are on the highest levels of something dangerous begins to appear on the horizon, and let�*s say the south china sea on the taiwan strait, we want to be able to communicate directly what the chinese military leaders and not just chinese military leaders and notjust somejunior chinese military leaders and notjust some junior bureaucrat not just some junior bureaucrat in notjust some junior bureaucrat in washington, dc, and of course, the agreement to really look at curbing the agreed gas ingredients that make up fans ingredients that make up fans in all, going into the drug cartels in mexico and south america, then being manufactured, that�*s very important for the american people, and the list goes on and on, so it was a very good meeting and a good foundation. if we can have collaboration and communication on key topics, then that makes it possible to have further

dialogue, collaboration and partnership is an 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 i about one of those complex issues, the issue of taiwan, from xijinping calling it the biggest and most dangerous issue facing the two countries. did the summer do enough to try to ease tensions when it comes to ease tensions when it comes to that complex issue? i�*m pretty sure that president biden made it very clear that the united states, under both democratic and republican presidents a says the recognition, we stand by a one china policy, the issue of taiwan is to be resolved by the people of taiwan on the mainland and we will not interfere but the reason we continue to provide arms to taiwan is to make sure that however it is resolved, it is resolved peacefully and not by military force by the mainland, so i�*m sure the president remunerated a one china policy, recognising that basing is the

sovereign nation over taiwan and that we do not seek independence for taiwan on that issue, it�*s up to the people of taiwan and china. i want to come back to that agreement is now to stem the ingredients being used to make friends in the us that are coming from china. china has promised something similar in the past to stop those precursor chemicals. do you think that china bookkeepers were this time around? i china bookkeepers were this time around?— china bookkeepers were this time around? i think china very much understands _ time around? i think china very much understands the - time around? i think china very i much understands the importance of this issue to america, and of this issue to america, and of course they want better economic relations with america. the economy and china is troubled, there is very high unemployment, a lot of social unrest and discontent among the working people, the people who have lostjobs, especially people coming out of high school into college, foreign investment into china has dropped dramatically, and so china is trying to bring back

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�*s within china�*s best interest to have better with america, and of course one of our key priorities is. the flow of chemicals from china, which then i used to make fentanyl, used by the drug cartels in south america and mexico, and so they know how important this is, to the fact that they are putting together groups to try to address this is a very good sign. to address this is a very good sin. �* , ., 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 fentanyl. 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. for more on this, i wasjoined again by gary locke, and we brought in wendy cutler — she served as the deputy us trade representative under president 0bama and is currently vice president of asia society policy institute. she was at the dinner with president xi held with american ceos this week. you actually said no—one expected to hear the speech

that xi jinping gave. expected to hear the speech that xijinping gave. what expected to hear the speech that xi jinping gave. what did you make of the message he had for american business leaders? in some ways it was a missed opportunity because ambassador locke stated, the chinese economy is in trouble now, not only not attracting foreign direct investment, they are losing foreign investment, and so this dinner was a real opportunity for xijinping so this dinner was a real opportunity for xi jinping to lay out the case for measures and steps he was going to take to ensure that the business climate would improve, instead, he gave a very high level speech, really aimed at emphasising the notion and his view that china is not a threat, that china is not interested in war, that china wants to increase and solidify people to people ties, but he made very little mention of the market or any economic issues, frankly. i market or any economic issues, frankl . . .,

market or any economic issues, frankl . _, . ~ market or any economic issues, frankl . ., market or any economic issues, frankl. ., frankly. i come back to you ga , frankly. i come back to you gary. how— frankly. i come back to you gary, how much _ frankly. i come back to you gary, how much do - frankly. i come back to you gary, how much do you - frankly. i come back to you l gary, how much do you think china�*s weaker economy affected some of the way that we saw xi jinping behaving this week and some of the agreement that ended up being made? was his hand just not as strong as it might have been, three orfour years ago? might have been, three or four years ago?— years ago? not at all, i think it's a matter _ years ago? not at all, i think it's a matter of _ years ago? not at all, i think it's a matter of trying - years ago? not at all, i think it's a matter of trying to - it's a matter of trying to develop closer relationships with— develop closer relationships with the united states and its something we want as well because our economies are so intertwined and millions and millions_ intertwined and millions and millions ofjobs on both sides of the — millions ofjobs on both sides of the pacific depend on trade between _ of the pacific depend on trade between the two countries, for instance. — between the two countries, for instance, china is america's number_ instance, china is america's number one export destination for our— number one export destination for our agricultural goods, and china, — for our agricultural goods, and china, with its growing middle class — china, with its growing middle class very— china, with its growing middle class very much wants american products— class very much wants american products which are known for high — products which are known for high quality, safety, purity, whether— high quality, safety, purity, whether it is food or medical devices. _ whether it is food or medical devices, and even environmental technology, so having better economic relations with united states— economic relations with united states meansjobs for the

states means jobs for the chinese _ states meansjobs for the chinese people and we recognise it also_ chinese people and we recognise it also meansjobs chinese people and we recognise it also means jobs for the american people. i was at that dinner— american people. i was at that dinner as — american people. i was at that dinner as well american people. i was at that dinneras welland i american people. i was at that dinner as well and i agree with wendy— dinner as well and i agree with wendy that the president of china — wendy that the president of china could have announced a more — china could have announced a more specific measures on how he is _ more specific measures on how he is going _ more specific measures on how he is going to, and how china will welcome foreign companies, american — will welcome foreign companies, american companies into china, but he _ american companies into china, but he was _ american companies into china, but he was also having to lead to his — but he was also having to lead to his own _ but he was also having to lead to his own domestic audience, and if— to his own domestic audience, and if he — to his own domestic audience, and if he made specific comments with respect to one american _ comments with respect to one american sector, other sectors will american sector, other sectors wiii say— american sector, other sectors will say what about us, so i guess— will say what about us, so i guess he _ will say what about us, so i guess he tried to say that china _ guess he tried to say that china welcomes american companies, that china needs american _ companies, that china needs american companies, but yes he could _ american companies, but yes he could have — american companies, but yes he could have been more specific. ithink— could have been more specific. i think you _ could have been more specific. i think you will have to look for those _ i think you will have to look for those specifics down the road — for those specifics down the road and _ for those specifics down the road and in the future. another interesting _ road and in the future. another interesting moment _ road and in the future. another interesting moment we - road and in the future. another interesting moment we had - interesting moment we had during this diplomatic exchange, this was when president biden was asked by a reporter at the end of the press conference about specifically, xijinping, let�*s take a lesson. after today,...

inaudible. take a lesson. after today, . .. inaudible-_ take a lesson. after today, . .. inaudible. , ., , inaudible. he's a guy that runs the country- -- — inaudible. he's a guy that runs the country... inaudible - inaudible. he's a guy that runs. the country... inaudible wendy, what did you make of that moment. what did you make of that moment-— what did you make of that moment. ~ , ., ., moment. we saw this viral video as well of _ moment. we saw this viral video as well of secretary _ moment. we saw this viral video as well of secretary blink - moment. we saw this viral video as well of secretary blink and - as well of secretary blink and reacting. what did you make of what biden said there? the president — what biden said there? the president had _ what biden said there? the president had a _ what biden said there? tie: president had a long what biden said there? tte: president had a long day what biden said there? t“te: president had a long day in what biden said there? tte: president had a long day in my view is that both leaders have different audiences they are trying to plato, ambassador like mentioning that even at the ceo dinner, she had to be mindful of how his comments may be interpreted at home and i think president biden was trying just to make it clear that even if they had a constructive and frank for our meeting together, that does not mean that we think that xi

jinping... it doesn�*t mean that xijinping is the jinping... it doesn�*t mean that xi jinping is the type of leader that a democracy produces. leader that a democracy produces-— leader that a democracy roduces. . , ., ., produces. ambassador, there are two different _ produces. ambassador, there are two different audiences _ produces. ambassador, there are two different audiences at - produces. ambassador, there are two different audiences at play i two different audiences at play here. how do you think the audience back in china might receive that comment from the president of the united states? i�*m sure the chinese people did not like the comment at all, but president biden is pointing out the fact that we really have two different political systems, toner is not a democracy, it�*s run by the communist party, xijinping has change the constitution so he could basically be rulerfor life, and it�*s a very autocratic, dictatorial type of government, a very top—down government, a very top—down government in which there is really no congress, and everything comes from and emanates from xi jinping, very different from what we have in the west and certainly if you are in america, so president

biden was very correct to basically say it�*s a very autocratic type of government. us republicans have generally taken a tougher line on china in recent years. presidential candidates at the last debate calling china the number one threat to the us. a representative from illinois spoke earlier this week ahead of president biederman�*s meeting president xi. the marathi distrust is based on a number of things. first of all, china�*s blatant support for putin in the invasion of ukraine. certainly, the continued wolf warrior diplomacy that china spews around the world. i think also getting to the origins of covid and what happened there. we had this obviously _ and what happened there. we had this obviously terrible _ this obviously terrible epidemic that you are not going to prevent a future epidemic when you do not know the

origins of this one. fourthly, i would say the manipulation of the world trade organisation and the theft of intellectual property continues to be an issue and lastly i would say the balloon flying over the us earlier this year has left a bad taste in the mouth of many in the united states as it relates to china, so what i will be looking for is what tangible actions is china and xijinping going to take tangible actions is china and xi jinping going to take to remedy the current relationship with china? there are many members of congress, republicans and democrats, that would prefer to go with a cold war mentality with china. what war mentality with china. what did ou war mentality with china. what did you make — war mentality with china. what did you make of— war mentality with china. what did you make of those - war mentality with china. what did you make of those comments, especially when it comes to china�*s role with the conflict in ukraine? china's role with the conflict in ukraine?— in ukraine? when i listen to those comments _ in ukraine? when i listen to those comments i _ in ukraine? when i listen to those comments i also - in ukraine? when i listen to those comments i also hearj those comments i also hear president biden saying "trust but verify." i think biden and his team have a clear idea going into this meeting but it is important to engage with the second largest economy in the world. we are both on the

planet and we need to engage. it does not mean that we will see a eye to eye on all issues and conflicts will continue whether it be with respect to taiwan, south china sea, russia ukraine, even to the middle east, but we need to engage in areas where we may have shared views or we can co—operate — let�*s go ahead and do it, but we should do it in a clear eyed manner and hold china sea to the fire to make sure that they live up to any commitments that are made, including at the summit. are made, including at the summit-— are made, including at the summit. . , ., g ., summit. ambassador, did joe biden hold — summit. ambassador, did joe biden hold china _ summit. ambassador, did joe biden hold china speak - summit. ambassador, did joe biden hold china speak to - summit. ambassador, did joe biden hold china speak to thej biden hold china speak to the fire enough? some republicans might say the administration could have taken an even tougher line. t could have taken an even tougher line.— tougher line. i think that wendy cutler— tougher line. i think that wendy cutler is - tougher line. i think that i wendy cutler is absolutely right. the president is basically taking an approach of trust but verify, for instance, the president has not rolled back the tariffs imposed by

president trump. in fact, under the biden administration there are more restrictions on us goods going to china. semiconductors, advanced tips and the equipment that could be used by china to make their own advanced chips so the biden administration is trying to be administration is trying to be a lot more surgical in approaching these trade issues, especially where it might be items that china could use to be put up its military and be a threat to our security. at the same time, the chinese know that if they were to provide direct military assistance to russia in the conflict with ukraine that the sanctions will follow and china have seen all of the european union, the european nations and the united states have done with respect to sanctioning russia. so, they don�*t want that to happen either so i think the biden administration has been portraying a top, 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 for their companies, thereby preventing a level playing field, you will see the biden administration continue to keep many of these tough measures in place. wendy, we have got _ tough measures in place. wendy, we have got about _ tough measures in place. wendy, we have got about 30 _ tough measures in place. wendy, we have got about 30 seconds . we have got about 30 seconds left but we saw some images of the special climate envoy shaking hands with president xi. how big of a deal was this to co—ordinate efforts on methane and renewables ahead of the next un climate summit in dubai? t the next un climate summit in dubai? ~ , dubai? i think it is extremely important- — dubai? i think it is extremely important- i— dubai? i think it is extremely important. i think _ dubai? i think it is extremely important. i think the - dubai? i think it is extremely important. i think the world i important. i think the world needs to see the us and china cooperating on a climate because if we don�*t all the other countries are going to say "why should we do anything?" 0h, say "why should we do anything?" oh, i think having important deliverables on climate weeks before the cop meeting is incredible and i

applaud senator kerry for being so persisted in working on this issue closely with his chinese counterpart to produce a somewhat deliverables here. wendy cutler served as a trade ambassador under president 0bama and gary locke a trade ambassador to china. but was out of us china panel speaking earlier. 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, my colleague spoke to former acting director of the cia michael morell. thank you indeed for joining 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 think the 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, 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 president biden and president xi and all of that is positive.

but what hasn�*t happened, caitriona, 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 like? you know, is mutual spying still part of the 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, 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 spying which are unacceptable and should be unacceptable. so, what does that do for the trust between the two nations, then? so, i think more important than, you know, intelligence operations is the trust issue with regard to taiwan. we think 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 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. xi jinping�*s connections to the us goes back decades. in 1985, he traveled with a delegation to muscatine, iowa, where he was received by sarah landee who�*s on the far right of this photo. she�*s been in touch with him ever since, and spoke with the bbc�*s americast this week about xi�*s visit back then. 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 in a casserole dish and together, that�*s what we served xi jinping and his delegation and we gave them a true iowa meal. a potluck with a future president there. and, finally, some panda diplomacy. chinese president xi jinping also appeared ready to deploy some soft power in the form of cuddly pandas. only a handful of pandas remain in the united states, with three having left the national zoo in washington last week. but president xi has signalled that china may send new pandas as "envoys of friendship between the chinese and american people." thanks for watching our bbc special report on the us and china. i�*m carl nasman in washington. stay with us. 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.

hey, i�*m zof with the catch up. tonight: everton in the relegation zone. more illness amongst

young workers. and a car park cat. but first, a man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of irish teacher ashling murphy. the 23—year—old was jogging along a canal near tullamore last january when 33—year—old jozef puska repeatedly stabbed her in the neck. ashling�*s killing cause widespread shock with vigils across ireland and the uk and pressure on the irish government to tackle violence against women. some other stories now. everton are in the relegation zone after being deducted ten points by the premier league — the biggest punishment in the competition�*s history. it�*s for breaking profit and sustainability rules. the club are going to appeal, though. next — millions of people are struggling with illnesses that get in the way of work. they include things like mental health issues or heart conditions. the problem�*s been

growing, too. 16— to 31t—year—olds are now as likely to have a health