No Xi Jinping in New Delhi: Premier Li Qiang to attend G20 summit, says China

China's Premier Li Qiang will attend the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement, confirming reports that President Xi Jinping will not be attending the summit.

By: Express Web Desk

Bengaluru | Updated: September 4, 2023 02:24 PM IST

2 min read

China's Premier Li Qiang (left) will attend the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi in September, instead of President Xi Jinping. (Reuters, file)

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China’s Premier Li Qiang will attend the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday, confirming reports that President Xi Jinping will not be attending the summit.

At the invitation of the government of the Republic of India, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, India on September 9 and 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a brief statement, reported the news agency PTI.

China hopes the summit can consolidate consensus, convey confidence and promote development, spokesperson Mao said in a news conference, reported Reuters.

This will be Li’s first visit to India after he took over the mantle as China’s Premier in March 2023. The former Communist Party chief of Shanghai is known as a firm Xi loyalist and is currently his No. 2 in Beijing.

Also read | Who is Li Qiang, the Xi Jinping ally appointed China’s new premier?

The confirmation from the Chinese end came after days of speculation over Xi’s presence at the summit, which will see world leaders like US President Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the capital city.

Besides Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to skip the summit.

Earlier, President Biden had expressed disappointment at reports that the Chinese leader is likely to skip the summit. When asked if he was looking forward to his visits to India and Vietnam, the US leader said, “Yes, I am.”

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At the conclusion of the summit, PM Modi will hand over the baton of the G20 Presidency to Brazilian President Lula, following which Brazil will formally assume the G20 Presidency on December 1.

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