President Xi Jinping Set to Skip G20 Summit, Fueling Speculation on Meeting with Joe Biden

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to skip the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi, according to sources from both India and China. Premier Li Qiang is likely to represent Beijing at the meeting, which is scheduled for September 9-10. The summit was seen as a potential venue for President Xi to meet with US President Joe Biden, as the two countries work to improve relations strained by trade and geopolitical tensions.

President Xi and President Biden last met at the G20 summit in Bali last November. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already announced that he will not be attending the summit and will send Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in his place. The reason for President Xi's expected absence has not been disclosed. This news comes as anticipation for a meeting between President Xi and President Biden grows, following a series of visits by top US officials to Beijing.

Another potential meeting between the two leaders has been suggested during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in San Francisco in November. President Xi has made limited international trips since China eased its pandemic-related border restrictions earlier this year. He recently attended a meeting of leaders from the BRICS group in South Africa.

Ahead of the G20 summit, several ministerial meetings in India have been marked by disagreement, particularly between Russia and China, who have opposed joint statements condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussions on reducing tensions in their bilateral relationship during the BRICS meeting in Johannesburg.