Pool Reports of November 16, 2024

Travel Pool Report 1 rolling

Good morning from Lima! I'll be your print pooler during President Biden's second day at the APEC conference.

We are rolling to the Lima Convention Center at 10:39 am. I have asked the White House why we're behind schedule.

Passing this along from the White House:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the Lima Convention Center:

Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State
Former Senator Chris Dodd (CT)
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ethan Rosenzweig, Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Daleep Singh, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics & Deputy Director, National Economic Council
Ariana Berengaut, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor
Dan Benaim, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Speechwriting and Strategic Initiatives
Dan Erikson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Western Hemisphere
Julia Reed, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Charles Fromstein, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Visits & Diplomatic Affairs, National Security Council
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel Pool Report # 2 APEC arrival

The motorcade arrived at the Lima Convention Center at 10:49 am after a slightly bumpy ride. Your pooler could not spot the president entering. We are now holding at the site for the family photo.

A White House staffer identified the location President Biden will be standing during the family photo. He will be in the second row in the stage left corner between Thailand and Vietnam.

Travel Pool Report 3 APEC Leaders Retreat

We are still holding at the family photo site. Passing this along from the White House:

The President is participating in the APEC Leaders' Retreat.

U.S. Delegation
T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State

APEC Economy Leaders
T.H. Anthony Albanese, MP, Prime Minister of Australia
H.M. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam
T.R.H. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada
H.E. Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile
H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
H.E. John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, China
H.E. Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia
H.E. Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan
H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea
T.H. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia
H.E. Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez, Under Secretary for International Trade, United Mexican States
T.H. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand
T.H. John Rosso, Vice Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
H.E. Dina Boluarte, President of the Republic of Peru
T.H. Cristina A. Roque, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary of the Republic of the Philippines
T.H. Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
H.E. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
H.E. Lin Hsin-i, Former Vice Premier of Chinese Taipei
H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
H.E. Luong Cuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Guest Represenatives
Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

Travel Pool Report #4 family photo

The first leaders took the stage for the family photograph at 12:25 PM. They were all wearing brown scarfs. Biden came in last, roughly five minutes after the first leader took the stage. He did not respond to shouted questions about his last APEC Summit. We're rolling at 12:37 PM.

I'll send more color in a separate pool report.

Travel Pool Report #5 Apec Photograph Details

Hassanal Bolkiah, the leader of Brunei, was the first to take the stage for the family photo at 12:25 P.M. Each of the leaders quickly followed -- with the exception of President Biden.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walked in chatting with Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia. Cristina A. Roque, the Philippines secretary of trade and industry, laughed in the back row with Christopher Luxon, the prime minister of New Zealand.

Each leader wore a brown scarf during the family photograph. I've asked the White House for the significance of the scarves.

President Xi Jinping stood near the center of the front row of the stage chatting briefly with Dina Boluarte, President of Peru. At one point he turned to the back row and appeared to show his scarf to Prime Minister Luxon.

The leaders of South Korea and Malaysia chatted in the first row towards stage left.

About five minutes after Bolkiah first took the stage, President Biden walked into the room wearing a brown scarf. He walked up the stairs and took his position in between the leaders of Thailand and Vietnam.

Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, turned back to Biden and shrugged. Biden shrugged back and smiled. He then joined each leader in waving to the cameras. He appeared to point to the right at someone. The then said something to Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and they both laughed.

Biden did not address a shouted question about how it felt to be at his last APEC summit.

The leaders exited the stage at 12:32 PM.

We were rolling at 12:37 PM and arrived back at the RON at 12:58 PM.

Passing along from the White House:

The President is participating in a family photo with APEC leaders.

APEC Economy Leaders
T.H. Anthony Albanese, MP, Prime Minister of Australia
H.M. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam
T.R.H. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada
H.E. Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile
H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
H.E. John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, China
H.E. Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia
H.E. Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan
H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea
T.H. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia
H.E. Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez, Under Secretary for International Trade, United Mexican States
T.H. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand
T.H. John Rosso, Vice Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
H.E. Dina Boluarte, President of the Republic of Peru
T.H. Cristina A. Roque, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary of the Republic of the Philippines
T.H. Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
H.E. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
H.E. Lin Hsin-i, Former Vice Premier of Chinese Taipei
H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
H.E. Luong Cuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Travel Pool Report #6 preview of Xi bilat

Hi all. We are still holding at the RON but I'm sending along this information on the bilat ahead of time. The White House tells me the site of the Biden-Xi bilat will be an absolute dead zone for phone connection and internet. Please expect a delay on pool reports.

We are expected to roll to the site of the bilat soon and then hold for roughly an hour before the bilat. I'll send a report when we're rolling but not sure I'll be able to when we arrive given the dead zone.

I also asked the White House why the bilat was being held at Xi's hotel. A White House official said it is essentially a rotation for hosting duties each time the leaders meet.. Last year the U.S. hosted China at the Woodside summit. Whoever is hosting chooses the location.

From the White House:

U.S. Delegation
T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
T.H. Nick Burns, United States Ambassador to China
T.H. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy
T.H. Daleep Singh, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and Deputy Director, National Economic Council
T.H. Dan Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
T.H Sarah Beran, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for China, National Security Council
Ms. Diana Partridge, Director for China, National Security Council
Ms. Joy Li, Director for China, National Security Council

People's Republic of China Delegation
H.E. Cai Qi, Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party
H.E. Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Member of the Political Bureau, and Foreign Minister
H.E. Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce
H.E. Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission
H.E. Jiang Jingquan, Director of the Policy Research Office of the Chinese Communist Party
H.E. Ma Zhaoxu, Executive Vice Foreign Minister
H.E. Lv Luhua, Secretary of President Xi
H.E. Hua Chunying, Vice Foreign Minister
H.E. Cai Wei, Director General, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Travel pool report #7 Hotel

The bilat will be held at Delfines Hotel & Convention Center. It is the Chinese delegation's hotel, according to the White House.

(Handing off to supplemental pool for the president's motorcade to the hotel).

Travel Pool Report #8 Biden Xi bilat

President Biden and President Xi greeted each other outside of the bilat at 4:04 PM. Xi arrived first followed by Biden. They shook hands and exchanged greetings. Biden ignored a question about how the two nations would address North Korea. Xi ignored a question about President-elect Trump. Biden ignored a question about about what advice he would give Xi about Trump. They then entered their meeting.

The two leaders then began their bilat at 4:06. The press was hustled out of the room at 4:11. Here's one quote about Xi on the U.S. elections. I'll send more soon.

"The United States has recently concluded its elections," Xi told Biden during his opening remarks. "China's goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China U.S. relationship remains unchanged."

"China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences, so as to strive for a steady transition of the China-US relationship for the benefit of the two peoples."

Travel Pool Report #9 Biden Xi more quotes

When President Biden and President Xi shook hands outside of the bilat, Xi said "good afternoon," according to a translator on site.

Your pooler could not hear Biden's greeting. When your pooler asked how the two nations would address North Korea, Biden looked at the press. He then turned to Xi, smiled and said something. It was too quiet to hear. The two ignored my questions about president-elect Trump.

The press was then rushed into the bilat. Biden was on the left side of a long table while Xi and his delegation were on the right.

Xi began the meeting with opening remarks. He spoke through a translator.

"President Biden, over the past four years China US relations have gone through ups and downs but under our joint stewardship, the two sides have also been engaged in fruitful dialogue and cooperation and the relationship has been kept stable," Xi said.

"When the two countries treat each other as partner and friend, seek common ground while shelving differences and help each other succeed, our relationship would make considerable progress. But if we take each other as rivals or adversary, pursue vicious competition, and seek to hurt each other, we would roil the relationship or even set it back," Xi said.

"Humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges," Xi said. "Major country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times. Only solidarity and cooperation can help humanity overcome current difficulties."

"Only mutually beneficial cooperation can lead to common development," Xi said. "Small yard high fences is not what the major countries should pursue."

"As two major countries, China and the United States should bear in mind the interest of the whole world and inject more certainty and positive energy into the turbulent world," Xi said.

"It is my consistent belief that as the world's most important bilateral relationship, a stable China U.S. relationship is critical, not only to the interests of the Chinese and American peoples, but also to the future and destiny of the entire humanity. The two countries should bear in mind the well being of the two peoples and the common interests of the international community. Make the wise choice, keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other and realize the long term peace or coexistence of China and the United States on this planet," Xi said.

He then gave the comment about the U.S. elections and the incoming administration. See last pool report.

Xi spoke for four minutes. Biden took notes occasionally as Xi spoke.

Biden spoke for 2 and a half minutes. Biden went next:

Biden: "One year ago, we met in Woodside summit [awkward phrasing CQ] in San Francisco and I'm very proud of the progress we both made together. Our military to military communication at multiple levels, our leaders are now regularly talking to one another on a regular basis. On AI we have brought together our nations experts together to discuss risks and safety. Our counter narcotics – on that issue we resumed cooperation and I want to note, in my country, Mr. President, overdose deaths are coming down for the first time in five years."

Xi shook his head in approval when Biden said this.

Biden:

"We have a lot to discuss, but let me close with this – for over a decade, you and I have spent many hours together, both here and in China and in between. And, you know, we, I think, we spent a long time dealing with these issues. Let me close with this. We, uh, I once had to count up the hours you and I spent alone together. I remember being on the Tibetan plateau with you, and I remember being in Beijing and all over the world, and uh, first as vice president and then as president. We haven't always agreed, but our conversations have always been candid and always been frank. We have never kidded one another. We've been level with one another. And I think that's vital. These conversations prevent miscalculations and they ensure the competition between our two countries will not veer into conflict – be competition not conflict. That's our responsibility, to our people and as you indicated to the people around the world. We are the most important alliance – or the most important relationship in the entire world, and how we're getting along together can impact the rest of the world. And so our two countries can not let any of this competition veer into conflict. That's our responsibility and over the last four years I think we've proven it's possible to have this relationship. And, uh, so Mr. President, I'm anxious to get our meeting started and discuss the issues we have remaining.

We're holding in the vans.

Travel Pool Report # 10 rolling

At 5:53 PM, the motorcade is rolling. Your pooler did not see Biden exit his bilateral or the hotel.

Travel Pool Report #11 RON arrival LID

We arrived at the Ron at 6:04 PM.

A White House official said Biden's bilateral started at 4:07 PM and ended at 5:47 PM.

Here is the zoom link for the NSC gaggle:

https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_0742EDZnSu6WKoMlpd9gfg

Also here's a detail from the scarves worn during the APEC family photo from earlier. Passed along from the White House:

the Peruvian gift the leaders received is a vicuña wool scarf from the Kuna brand

Supplemental travel pool report #1 - Motorcade rolling

Hello from an unusually sunny Lima. I'm your supplemental pooler, covering POTUS's ride from the RON to Chinese President Xi Jinping's hotel, the Delfines Hotel & Convention Center.

The motorcade is rolling as of 3.35pm. Pool caught a glimpse of The Beast but did not lay eyes on POTUS.

Unclear if the comms dead zone at the site will allow an arrival report so I'll try to send one as we are approaching.

Supplemental travel pool report #2 - arrival

After a few minutes of high speed driving the motorcade stopped briefly on a freeway at 3.41pm because of what appeared to be a traffic jam. It moved again a minute later.

Motorcade arrived at the Delfines hotel at 3.48pm with sirens blaring.