Politics

Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend G20 Summit, Premier Li Qiang to represent

China hopes the summit can consolidate consensus, convey confidence and promote development

September 4, 2023

Not President Xi Jinping, but Premier Li Qiang to Attend G20 Summit in New Delhi, China Confirms

After days of uncertainty, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed Xi Jinping‘s unavailability for the G20 Summit in a statement on Monday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending the G20 Summit in New Delhi, which is scheduled to be held between September 9 and 10. It said that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in Jinping’s place.

The Chinese government did not disclose any reason for Jinping’s inability to attend the G20 Summit.

There is also uncertainty about Jinping attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits in Indonesia‘s Jakarta later this week.

“At the invitation of the government of the Republic of India, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, India on September 9 and 10,” Ning said in a statement.

The Spokesperson said, “China hopes the summit can consolidate consensus, convey confidence and promote development.”

US President Joe Biden has expressed his “disappointment” over his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s likely absence at this week’s G20 Summit in New Delhi.

“I am disappointed… but I am going to get to see him,” Biden told reporters on Sunday, without providing any further details.

Xi had earlier said he would travel to New Delhi for the summit, but China’s Foreign Ministry did not confirm his attendance when asked to do so at a regular press briefing on August 31.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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