In a recent development, President Joe Biden voiced his disappointment regarding the anticipated absence of his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, at the forthcoming G20 summit scheduled to be hosted by India. The summit, slated for September 9-10 in New Delhi, was widely perceived as a potential platform for the two global leaders to convene, especially considering their previous meeting on the sidelines of the 2022 G20 summit in Indonesia.
While President Biden did not delve into specifics regarding a potential future meeting with President Xi, he did emphasize his intent to "get to see him." In lieu of President Xi, it is expected that Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the G20 summit. Adding to the list of absentees, Russian President Vladimir Putin has also communicated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi his decision to skip the summit.
The G20 summit, under India's presidency this year, is set to welcome a plethora of leaders and delegates from around the globe. In addition to the core 20 members, nations such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, and the UAE have received invitations. President Biden, confirming his participation, will be in India from September 7-10, subsequently heading to Vietnam. When probed about his upcoming trip, Biden responded affirmatively, expressing his anticipation. He further highlighted the desire of both India and Vietnam to fortify their ties with the U.S., a move he believes could be mutually beneficial.
Other notable attendees for the G20 summit encompass U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The G20 summit, a pivotal event in the international calendar, offers a unique platform for world leaders to discuss and deliberate on global challenges. The absence of key players like President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin is bound to influence the dynamics and outcomes of the discussions. As the world keenly awaits the summit's proceedings, the spotlight remains on the interactions and collaborations that will shape the future of global diplomacy.
