Dark Brandon has been steadily pulling rabbits out of the hat for the past four months or so, but this time he pulled one out of thin air!
Monday's meeting between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping struck a positive tone — a notable change after several years of rapidly deteriorating bilateral ties.
Why it matters: Fears of a looming U.S.-China conflict, or even the outbreak of war, have been rising in both countries amid tensions over Taiwan, China's military buildup, tech competition, tariffs, sanctions and cybersecurity.
Details: In a nearly three-hour meeting on the sidelines of the G20, Biden and Xi discussed how to manage competition between their two countries and agreed to create channels for their top officials to communicate regularly.
Between the lines: Successfully securing a third term, as well as pressure from other countries, may have led Xi to prioritize easing tensions with the U.S., analysts say.