Please have a seat. As you know, I just had several hours
of meetings with President Xi, and I believe these are some of the most constructive
and productive discussions we've had. I've been meeting with President
Xi since both of us for vice president over ten years ago. Our meetings have always been candid,
straightforward. We haven't always agreed,
but they've been straightforward. And today build on the groundwork
relayed over the past several months of high level diplomacy
between our teams. We've made some important progress,
I believe. First, I'm pleased to announce
that after many years of being on hold, we are restarting cooperation between the United States
and PRC and counter-narcotics. In 2019, you may remember, China took action
and greatly reduced the amount of fentanyl shipped directly from China
to the United States. But in the years since that time,
the challenge has evolved from finished fentanyl
to fentanyl chemical ingredients and in pill prices,
which are being shipped without control. And by the way, some of these pills are being inserted
in other drugs like cocaine. A lot of people are dying. More people in United
States between the ages of 18 to 49 die from fentanyl than from guns,
car accidents or any other cause. Period. So today, with this new understanding, we're taking action to significantly
reduce the flow of precursor chemicals and pill presses from China
to the Western Hemisphere. It's going to save lives. And I appreciate President Xi's commitment
on this issue. President Xi and I test our teams
to maintain a policy and law enforcement coordination
going forward to make sure it works. I also want to thank the bipartisan
congressional delegation to China, led by Leader Schumer in October for supporting efforts
to this effort so strong. Secondly,
and this is a critically important we're resuming military
to military contact, direct contacts. As a lot of you know, follow this, that's
been cut off and it's been way worse. And that's how accidents happen. Misunderstandings. So we're back to direct,
open, clear, direct communications and on direct basis, vital
miscalculations on either side. Can our can cause real, real trouble
with a with a country like China
or any other major country. And so I think we're making real progress
there as well. And thirdly, we're going
to get our experts together to discuss risk and safety issues
associated with artificial intelligence. As many of you travel with me
around the world, almost everywhere I go, every major leader wants to talk about
the impact of artificial intelligence. These are tangible steps
in the right direction to determine what useful, what's not useful,
what's dangerous, and what's acceptable. Moreover, there are evidence of cases
that that I've made all along. The United States will continue
to compete vigorously with the PRC, but will manage
that competition responsibly so it doesn't appear in a conflict
or accidental conflict and where it's possible,
where our interests are coincide. We're going to work together
like we did on fentanyl. That's what the world expects of us. The rest of all expect not just in people
in China, in the United States, but the rest of the world
expects that of us. And that's what the United States
is going to be doing today. President Xi and I also exchanged views
on a range of regional and global issues, including Russia's
refusal and brutal war to stop the war and brutal war of aggression
against Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza. And as always, do I raised areas
where the United States has concerns about the PRC actions, including detained an X and and banned U.S. citizens. Human rights and corrective. Q course of activities in the South
China Sea. We discussed all three of those things. I gave them names of individuals who we think are being held and hopefully
we can get them released as well. No agreement on that.
No agreement on that. I also stressed the importance of peace
and stability in the Taiwan Straits. It's clear that we object to Beijing,
to Beijing's non-market economic practices and disadvantages that disadvantage
American businesses and workers. And then we'll continue to address them. And I named what I thought
a number of those were. I welcome the positive steps
we've taken today, and it's important for the world to see
that we're implementing the approach in the best
traditions of American diplomacy. We're talking to our competitors
and the key and just just talking to
just be blunt with one another. So there's no misunderstanding
as a key element to maintaining global stability and delivering for
the American people in the months ahead. We're going to continue to preserve
and pursue high level diplomacy. The PRC in both directions to keep the lines of communication open,
including between President Xi and me. He and I agree that each one of us
could pick up the phone call directly what we heard immediately. And that's now I'd like to be able
to take some questions, if I may. And I'm told that Dmitri of the Financial
Times as the first question. A thank you. And as an Irishman,
I apologize for bringing the rain on. Holy God, I wouldn't have called on
if I'd known that. Now I'm teasing. Go ahead. And firing to President Biden. Given that America is playing a key role
in two major global crises, Ukraine and in Gaza. Does that alter your previous commitment to defend Taiwan
from any Chinese military action? And did Xi Jinping outline the conditions
under which China would attack by one? Look, I reiterate
what I've said since I've become president and what every previous president
has said, that we we maintain the agreement
that there is a one China policy and that I'm not going to change that. That's not going to change. And so that's about the extent
to which we discussed it. Next question. Sorry, was Bloomberg. As it appears, among other issues, that your agreement with President Xi over
and all would require will require a lot of trust and verification
to ensure that curbing those drug flows? I'm wondering, after today,
and considering all that you've been through in the past year,
would you say, Mr. President, that you trust President Xi? And secondly, if I could, on Taiwan, you've you and your administration
officials have warned President Xi and find out about interference
in the upcoming elections. I'm wondering what would the consequences if they do, in fact, interfere
in the election? Well, I've had that discussion with him
to made it clear I didn't expect any interference. And, you know,
we had that discussion as he was leaving. Look, do I trust you? I trust but verify
as that old saying goes. That's where I am. And, you know, we're in a competitive relationship. China and the United States. But my responsibility is to to make it
make this rational and manageable so it so it doesn't result in conflict. That's what I'm all about. That's what this is about. To find a place where we can come together and where we find mutual interest. But most importantly, from my perspective,
that are in the interests of the American people. That's what this is about. And that's exactly what we'll do. You know, we're in a situation where we agreed that fentanyl, as it's
precursors, will be curbed substantially
and the pill presses. That's a big that's a big movement
they're doing. And by the way, you know, I won't
I guess I shouldn't identify where it occurred. But John, I know two people near where I live are kids. And literally, as I said, exchanges. They woke up dead. Someone inserted in
whether the young man did or not inserted in a drug
he was taking fentanyl. Again, I don't
I hope you don't have any experience with knowing anyone,
but this is the largest killer. People in that age category. And, you know, I guess the other thing
I think is most important is that since I spent more time with President Xi than any world leader has,
just because we were vice presidents, his president was President Hu. I'm not making a joke. President Hu and and President Obama
thought we should get to know one another. Wouldn't appropriate for the president
United States to be dealing with a vice president. So we met, if I'm
not mistaken, I think it was 68 hours of just face to face discussion
of a simultaneous interpreter. So I think I know the man. I know his modus operandi. He's been we have disagreements. He has a different view
than I have on a lot of things. But he's been straight. I don't mean good, bad or indifferent,
just been straight. And so, you know, we as I said,
the thing that I find most assuring is he raised and I fully agree that either one of us have any concern, Mr. Ambassador, any concern about anything between our nations
or happening in our region. We should pick up the phone,
call one another, and we'll take the call. That's an important progress. I'm embarrassed, I think, as CBS,
but I can't remember who is CBS. I'm sorry. It's your president. Sorry. I apologize. At In Stress Park. Fine. Not areas of concern for the past years there when and I brushed against aircraft and of an area. I'll find if that is how hearing input got an issue or name and. At well first of all none of it did end up in a conflict. Number one. Number two, you may recall I did a few little things
like get the quad together while Australia
to have access to new submarines moving in the direction of work
with the Philippines. So our actions
speak louder than our words. He fully understands and this is. The same spirit as out. I agree on the action and as it I in and out. But it is there is also that aspect as so when we argue against members that we either has is operational way just. Or we did discuss this by the way but we can't let it get out of control. Here's a situation. You have a circumstance where the first war crimes being committed
by Hamas, by having their headquarters, their military hidden under a hospital,
and that's a fact. That's what happened. Israel did not go in with large number of troops to not raid,
not rush everything down. They've gone in
and they've gone in with their soldiers carrying weapons, their guns, they were told the total. Let me be precise. We've discussed the need for them
to be incredibly careful. You have a circumstance where you know there is a fair number of Hamas terrorists. Hamas has already said publicly that they plan on attacking Israel again
like they did before to cut babies heads off to Birmingham, burning women and children alive. And so the idea
that they're going to just stop and not do anything is not realistic. This is not the carpet bombing. This is a different thing. They're going through these tunnels. They're going in the hospital. And if you notice, I. I was mildly preoccupied today.
I apologize. I didn't see everything. But what I did see,
whether I haven't had a confirmed yet, I am asked my team to answer the question. But what happened
is they're also bringing in incubators. We're bringing in other other means
to help the people in the hospital. And they've given the doctors and I'm told the doctors and nurses and the personnel
an opportunity to get out of harm's way. So this is a different story
than I believe was occurring
before an indiscriminate bombing when you got Washington Post. I think that's right. Mr.. Oh, there you are. Sorry. I can see in the White. Reels thousand more than 11,000. I was just for a month. And I'm sorry you're breaking up. I didn't. Israel's war in
Gaza has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians just over a month
and created a humanitarian disaster. Israeli officials
have said this work months or even years. Have you communicated to Prime Minister
Netanyahu any sort of deadline or timeframe for how long you are willing
or in Israel in this operation? Are you comfortable with the operation
going on indefinitely? And is there any deal under way
to free hospital? Thank you. Yes. No. Working backwards, forward. Look, I have been deeply involved in moving on the hostage negotiation and I don't want
to get ahead of myself here because I don't know what's happened
in the last 4 hours, but there I have gotten great cooperation from the countries. I've spoken with them as well
a number of times. I think the pause and that is really that
the Israelis have agreed to sit down. Do without getting too much detail. I know Mr. Secretary will stop the. But I am I am mildly hopeful and mildly hopeful. With regard to when is this going to stop? I think it's going to stop
when the when Hamas no longer maintains the capacity to murder and abuse
and and and just do a horrific things
to the Israelis. And they're in and they still think, at least as of this morning,
they still thought they could. I, I guess the best way for me to say it is that I take a look The IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces, acknowledges
they have an obligation to use as much caution
as they can in going after their targets. It's not like they're rushing
in the hospital, knocking down doors and, you know, pulling people aside
and shooting people indiscriminately. But Hamas, as I said, said they plan on attacking Israelis again. And this is a terrible dilemma. So what do you do? I think that Israel is also taking risks themselves about their folks
being killed, 1 to 1 going through these hospital
rooms, hospital halls. But one thing has been established is that Hamas does have a headquarters
weapons material below
this hospital and I suspect others. But how long it's going
to last, I don't know. Look, I made it clear to the Israelis that the baby and his war cabinet. But I think the only ultimate answer here is a two state solution is real. We're going to get to the point where there is an ability to be able
to even talk without worrying about whether or not
we're just dealing with they're dealing with Hamas
that's going to engage in the same activities
they did over the past on the seventh. So it's but I can't tell I'm
not a fortune teller. I can't tell you
how long it's going to last. But I can tell you I don't think it ends
until there's a two state solution. I made it clear to the Israelis,
I think it's a big mistake for them to think they're going
to occupy Gaza and maintain Gaza. I don't think that works. And so we're going to
I think you're going to see efforts to bring along well, I shouldn't go in anymore
because these things have been negotiated with Arab countries and others
about what the next steps are. But anyway, thank you all very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. This ends the press conference. Obviously, the Taliban are coming from Hamas. Hamas said they plan on
doing the same thing again, but they did what they did at the summit. They're going to go
and they want to slaughter Israelis. They want to do it again. They've said it out loud. They're not kidding about it. They're not backing off. And so I just asked a rhetorical question. I wonder what we would do if that were the case. Because, as you said, we're talking. What do you mean?
The American hostages? We said, oh. What I meant was I'm doing everything in my power
to get you out. Coming to help you, to get you out. I don't mean sending military to get them. Is that what you thought I might be? No, no, no. I was not talking about the military. I was talking about we on our mind
every single day, five or six times a day. I'm working on how I can be helpful
in getting hostages released and have a period of time where there's
a pause long enough to let that happen. And there are somewhere between 50
and 100 hostages there. We think there was a three year
old American child. You don't, right? It is. That's
why I'm not going to stop till we get our guys that President Biden speaking to. Can you tell us what kind of evidence
the U.S. has seen small cars and vans entourage
across the world? No, I can't tell. I won't tell, Will. Absolutely. Portland based on that. Yes. Yes. And Mr. President, after today,
would you still support President Xi as a dictator,
as a term that you used earlier this year? Oh, he is. I mean, do you think in the sense
that he is the guy who runs the country that is based. On different norms and.
