G20 Summit: On Thursday, US President Joe Biden expressed his optimism regarding the potential attendance of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi.
Biden, among a gathering of over twenty world leaders, is set to participate in the G20 Summit scheduled for the following week.
The event is being hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recent reports from the media have indicated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping might not be in attendance at the summit.
When asked about his expectations for President Xi's presence at the G20 Summit, Biden responded to reporters on Thursday, stating, "My hope is that he attends the G20 Summit."
Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), suggested that President Xi Jinping's decision to forgo the G20 Summit in India could serve as evidence of China's present hesitance to concede its prominent role to India.
Aamer remarked, "One of the most noteworthy developments, possibly foreseen by some, is President Xi's choice to abstain from participating in the upcoming G20 Summit hosted by India. This decision holds various intricate implications."
"Firstly, the implication here is that China shows hesitancy in yielding the centre stage to India, especially in the regional and broader neighborhood context. This highlights China's aim to uphold its prevailing position and influence, thereby directly affecting the intricate power equilibrium within the region," explained Aamer.
Secondly, President Xi's nonattendance acts as a reminder that attaining de-escalation at the border demands continuous and intricate diplomatic endeavours. This negotiation process will be prolonged, interwoven with the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Himalayan region and China's strategic rivalry with the United States, according to her analysis.
The omission of prominent summits like the G20 from President Xi's agenda accentuates the complex levels of negotiations and underscores the necessity of ensuring that domestic constituencies are in harmony with the chosen diplomatic course, as outlined by her.
As part of the upcoming G20 Summit set to be held in New Delhi, several prominent world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, among others, are expected to attend.
More than 30 countries are slated to participate in the G20 summit, with around 20 countries directly participating and several others invited as guests.
