US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment regarding reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi. Biden shared his disappointment with reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Sunday. However, he did not elaborate on where he hopes to meet the Chinese leader or when.
According to Reuters, Xi Jinping is unlikely to attend the G20 summit in person, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang leading the Beijing delegation instead. While Beijing has yet to officially confirm Xi’s travel plans, both the Indian and Chinese foreign ministries declined to comment on the issue.
President Biden’s desire to meet with President Xi at the G20 summit is significant as it would have been their first face-to-face meeting since their talks at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November. However, the meeting now appears unlikely. President Putin of Russia will also not be attending the G20 summit, and Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Notably, Xi Jinping has made only two foreign trips since China lifted its Covid-19 restrictions in late 2022. He visited Moscow in March for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and personally attended the BRICS summit in South Africa last month.
Despite the disappointment of not meeting Xi at the G20 summit, President Biden is still expected to arrive in India earlier, on September 7, to participate in multiple bilateral meetings with other world leaders.
The G20 summit, scheduled for September 9 and 10, was highly anticipated by the Western media, as it would have been an opportunity for Biden’s first in-person meeting with President Xi. The summit is expected to focus on key global issues such as Covid-19 recovery, climate change, and economic cooperation.
The absence of President Xi raises questions about China’s priorities and its diplomatic approach. It also underscores the complexities of international relations and the challenges of organizing global summits, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The G20 summit in New Delhi will bring together leaders from the world’s major economies to discuss and coordinate efforts to address pressing global issues. The outcome of this summit will have significant implications for international cooperation and the future trajectory of global economic and political affairs.
Despite the disappointment of President Biden and the absence of President Xi, the G20 summit remains a crucial platform for dialogue and collaboration among world leaders. The discussions and agreements reached at the summit will shape the global agenda and contribute to promoting stability, economic growth, and sustainable development worldwide.
As the world continues to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic and other global issues, multilateral forums like the G20 summit play a crucial role in fostering cooperation and finding collective solutions. The absence of President Xi serves as a reminder of the complexities and uncertainties that accompany international diplomacy and highlights the importance of ongoing dialogue and engagement among nations.
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