He had never missed a G20 summit. Even the first two years of the pandemic, in which he did not move from Beijing, he appeared in the meetings by videoconference. For Xi JinpingEspecially in the last five years, the most important meeting of world leaders of the year was a great showcase to present China as the friendly superpower, the only one capable of presenting an alternative to the hegemonic order of the United States. That is why it came as a surprise that the president of the world’s second largest economy will not be at the G20 in New Delhi next weekend.
The rumors had been circulating for several days, with international analysts warning that Xi’s absence from the highly anticipated international forum could be interpreted as a break with the Western bloc as Beijing moves ever closer to the emerging economies of the Global South and maintains its close relationship with Russia.
It was this Monday when the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the news. In place of Xi, in New Delhi will be the second strong man of the government, the prime minister Li Qiangpromoted last year after Xi tied up a third term in the Communist Party (CCP) congress.
“The Group of 20 is an important forum for international economic cooperation, and China has always attached great importance to and actively participated in relevant activities,” a Beijing spokeswoman said, announcing that Li would be at the summit. .
“I’m disappointed, but I’ll be able to see itsaid the US president Joe Biden when asked by reporters on Sunday about Xi’s absence, before it was officially confirmed by Beijing.