China’s President Xi Jinping to Miss G-20 Summit for the First Time, Premier Li Qiang to Represent China
China’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that President Xi Jinping will not attend the upcoming G-20 summit in New Delhi on September 9-10, marking the first time he has skipped this annual diplomatic event. Instead, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the second-ranked leader, will represent China at the summit. The announcement did not provide specific reasons for President Xi’s absence.
China has traditionally placed significant importance on the G-20 summit as a platform to influence global order and demonstrate its growing influence. President Xi’s recent participation in the BRICS summit in South Africa on August 24 indicates China’s engagement with international affairs. During the South Africa summit, President Xi engaged in informal discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response to India’s invitation, revealed that Premier Li Qiang would attend the G-20 summit in India. The spokesperson expressed China’s expectation that the summit would reach a consensus on economic and developmental challenges, project confidence to the world, and promote shared prosperity and growth.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador have expressed their regrets for being unable to attend the summit. Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Mexico by Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez.
