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According to sources in both India and China, Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip the upcoming G20 Summit in India next week, as reported by Reuters. Instead, Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to represent Beijing at the September 9-10 meeting in New Delhi, as confirmed by two Indian officials, a diplomat based in China, and an official from another G20 country.
Requests for comments from the Indian and Chinese foreign ministries’ spokespersons went unanswered.
The G20 Summit in India was anticipated as a potential venue for a meeting between Xi and US President Joe Biden, who has confirmed his attendance, as both superpowers aim to mend relations strained by various trade and geopolitical issues. Xi’s last meeting with Biden took place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November.
A senior Indian government official informed Reuters, “We are aware that the premier will come in place of Xi.”
Sources in China, including two who claim to have received information from Chinese officials, stated that they were unaware of the reason for Xi’s expected absence, according to Reuters.
Since China relaxed its COVID restrictions, President Xi has made only a few international trips, although he did attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa last week.
The lead-up to the G20 Summit in India has seen some contentious moments, with Russia and China jointly opposing joint statements that included paragraphs condemning Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine last year, as reported by Reuters.
