Chinese President Xi will not attend the G20 meeting in India

2023-09-04 21:05:36, Kosova & Bota CNA

Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to attend this week's G20 summit in India at a time when relations between the two countries have cooled.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Prime Minister Li Qiang will represent China at this meeting, which will be held on September 9-10.

Relations between China and India have been strained recently due to border issues between them. Three years ago, tensions led to a clash in the Ladakh region that left 20 Indian and Chinese soldiers dead. Since then, the two sides have deployed tens of thousands of troops alongside tanks, fighter jets and artillery.

Disagreements have also arisen over trade issues and the strengthening of strategic relations between India and the United States. India and China have expelled each other's journalists.

The two countries have the largest population in the world, are rivals in technology, space research and global trade.

Asked why President Xi will not attend the meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning declined to comment.

"The G20 meeting is a major international forum for international economic cooperation. China has always attached special importance to it and has been an active participant in important activities," Mrs. Mao declared at the press conference.

"Premier Li Qiang will elaborate on China's views and proposals for G20 cooperation, talk about the need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and work together to respond to global economic and development challenges," she said.

The military commanders of China and India met last month and vowed to "maintain peace and tranquility" along the border in an effort to defuse the situation.

But President Xi's absence from the G20 high-level meeting, besides having an impact on relations between China and India, eliminates the possibility of a meeting between him and President Biden. Relations between China and the United States are at an all-time low, despite recent visits by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other US officials to Beijing.

On Sunday, President Biden told reporters that he does not expect to meet with the Chinese leader.

"I'm disappointed, but I know I'll meet him," declared Mr. Biden.

It is not yet clear when such a meeting could take place as it is not clear whether President Xi will participate in the Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be held in San Francisco in November./ VOA