NEW DELHI: Chinese president Xi Jinping is likely to skip the G20 summit being held in India next week, news agency Reuters reported quoting sources in China and India on Thursday.
As per the Reuters, Chinese premier Li Qiang is expected to represent Beijing at the summit, and said they were not aware of the reason for his expected absence.
Xi Jinping becomes the second high profile leaders who will not be visiting India to attend the G20 summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin had already expressed his inability to attend the G20 summit. Russian foreign minister Segei Lavrov will be representing Putin at the global summit.
The G20 summit is being organised in India from September 9-10 in New Delhi.
Xi has been travelling selectively out of China owing to economic and domestic problems in 2023. This year, the Chinese President has visited Russia and South Africa only. Xi went to South Africa this month to attend the Brics summit.
Xi Jinping and PM Modi had a brief meeting on the sidelines of the Brics summit, which was initiated at the request of the Chinese side.
The G20 summit in India was being viewed as a venue at which Xi may meet with US President Joe Biden, who has confirmed his attendance.
The two superpowers seek to stabilise relations soured by a range of trade and geopolitical tensions.
Xi last met Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia last November.
(With inputs from agencies)
