In this episode, we are joined by our colleague Ben Kostrzewa from our Hong Kong office, who brings extensive experience in navigating the complex landscape of U.S.-China trade relations, export control, sanctions, and investment restrictions.   We discuss President Biden's recent bilateral meetings with Xi Jinping in San Francisco, signaling prospects for future discussions, albeit with lingering concerns over potential conflict triggers. We also delve into China's economic setbacks post-COVID, including a notable downturn after decades of consistent growth, and we look at Hong Kong's evolving role within China's economy and highlight Hong Kong’s enduring advantages for businesses operating in the region. Finally, we look ahead to 2024, where we consider Taiwan's January presidential election and China's economic trajectory as potential challenges for the future.   The recent Biden – Xi meetings were held at the same time as the APEC and IPEF forums in San Francisco. See our related episode with Kelly Ann Shaw on APEC/IPEF here.