>> reporter: it's a bit overwhelming, jake, when you liston to the list you went through of the points of contention between these two countries. where do you begin? what do you prioritize? how do you start a meeting like this? for the u.s., that's generally where we start to see the messaging ahead of the meetings, where the transparency is and it seems to their focus is on maybe seeing a crackdown on fentanyl, perhaps reestablishing communications between the two countries' militaries, maybe something on climate. take a step back and say the bigger focus is just going to be stopping the freefall. the downward spiral that is u.s./china relations right now, bringing it to a level point and perhaps this meeting tonight is a start to that. >> both leaders have to say you need something of of a win here, don't they? both are in a weaker position than they were during the last year meeting, the last time they met in bali. >> reporter: so let's look at president biden first. he is in campaign mode. right? so he is hoping to stabilize u.s./china relations in this meeting. at the same time, h