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Snowy and frigid Alaska is perhaps an apt metaphor — for the current state of Sino-U.S. relations.

American and Chinese officials are meeting in Anchorage for the first time since Joe Biden became U.S. president. They’re trying to chart a path forward after four tumultuous years of Donald Trump when bilateral ties plunged to their lowest ebb.

Both sides are cautious about the outcome of the summit with several outstanding issues on the table. So how will the world’s two largest economies and trading partners move forward on critical issues from trade to human rights?

In a wide-ranging discussion, former U.S. ambassador to China, Gary Locke underlined why it’s imperative for the two nations to find common ground despite their sharp differences.