President Biden goes to the G20 meeting, the Chinese president does not attend

2023-09-06 17:29:06, Kosova & Bota CNA

President Biden is visiting India this week, alongside leaders from the Group of 20 of the world's most developed and wealthy nations. As the correspondent of the Voice of America in the White House, Anita Powell, announces, he will address the topics of climate change, debt restructuring and the war in Ukraine, as well as welcome the new members of the group.

President Joe Biden heads to the G20 meeting in India with ambitious goals and high hopes for cooperation between the richest and most developed countries, according to the White House.

"We hope that this G20 meeting will show how the world's leading economies can work together even in challenging times. As we travel to New Delhi, our goal is to help developing countries, make progress on our key priorities for Americans from climate issues to technology, and demonstrate our commitment to the G20 as a forum that, as I said before can deliver results,” says National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

The meeting in New Delhi, India will be dominated by issues on which the delegations of the participating states do not always agree, such as the war in Ukraine, climate change, the reform of international institutions that provide financial support to developing countries and the decision to accept the Union African 55 members in this forum.

Analysts say the absence of two key leaders - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping - will affect the course of the meeting.

"I think it is good news that Mr. Putin has again decided not to participate in the meeting, just like last year in Bali. And chances are the Chinese president won't be attending either. This fact enables all countries to make decisions more easily," says Mr. John Kirton of the G20 Research Group, near the University of Toronto.

Asked about the absence of Mr. Xi, President Biden said that he is disappointed, but that he will meet him on another occasion, but it is not yet known when such a meeting can be held.

Meanwhile, analysts hope that India and China will overcome differences over a new Chinese territorial map, which India opposes.

"Geopolitical tensions have existed for a long time, even before the G20 in India. The fact that they are highlighted and the central topic on the eve of this meeting is not an ideal situation. My hope and expectation is that they will focus on economic issues and that the border disputes will be dealt with separately," says Ms. Stephanie Segal from the Center for Strategic and Economic Studies.

She says she hopes the delegations will overcome their differences and focus on reforming institutions like the World Bank — an issue analysts say would have ripple effects.

"Such reforms would put emphasis on what we call global public goods - like climate issues, pandemic preparedness, food insecurity. The reforms would enable these institutions, including the World Bank, to provide additional financing to developing markets and low-income countries and financing on much more favorable terms,” says Ms. Segal.

The meeting in New Delhi begins on Saturday./ VOA