WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Leaders from the United States and Indonesia were in discussions on Monday (Nov 13) that will set the stage for US President Joe Biden's first in-person meeting in a year with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Biden greeted Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the White House as the two leaders prepare for a Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, where Washington hopes to reduce friction with Beijing. Biden is due to meet Xi on Wednesday.

Biden and Widodo are expected to agree to new cooperation in defence areas including cybersecurity, space, combined exercises and nuclear threats, according to a senior Biden administration official who declined to be identified.

On climate, the United States will announce steps with the Southeast Asian country on carbon capture and storage, supporting the electrical grid and improving air quality.

Reuters reported on Sunday that the two countries are working to advance a potential minerals partnership focused on the electric vehicle (EV) battery metal nickel, citing three people with direct knowledge of the conversations.

But the Biden administration is still concerned about environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in Indonesia and is examining how such a deal might work. The two sides will unveil a plan that will prepare the countries for negotiations on the issue, said one of the U.S. officials.

Photo from Reuters