Joe Biden Expresses Disappointment on Xi Jinping's Plan to Skip G20 Summit

US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment on Sunday over the absence of China President Xi Jinping at the upcoming G20 summit in India.

Despite this, Biden hinted at an upcoming interaction with Xi. Speaking from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, he did not provide further details.

Biden's itinerary includes visiting India from September 7 to 10 for the G20 summit, followed by a trip to Vietnam.

These efforts align with his administration's goal of bolstering US ties within the Asian region.

Sources have indicated that Xi is likely to forgo attendance at the summit, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang poised to represent Beijing at the New Delhi meeting, as reported by Reuters.

When asked about his outlook on the trip, Joe Biden affirmed his anticipation. He also expressed a desire for enhanced coordination, highlighting the mutual interest of both India and Vietnam in strengthening their relations with the United States.

Why Did China President Xi Jinping Decide to Skip the G20 Summit?

Amid uncertainty, President Xi Jinping's participation in the upcoming G20 summit in India remains unconfirmed, according to BBC.

While Xi had previously indicated plans to attend the meeting in the Indian capital, China's foreign ministry declined to verify his attendance during a routine press briefing on Thursday.

Citing undisclosed sources familiar with the summit's preparations, news reports suggest that Mr. Xi has opted not to attend this year's annual gathering.

This development occurs against deteriorating relations between China and India, marked notably by ongoing tensions along their disputed border in the Himalayan region.

Recent tensions escalated when Beijing unveiled a map asserting Chinese ownership of the Arunachal Pradesh state and the Aksai Chin plateau, inciting India's protest.

Looking ahead, a potential avenue for dialogue between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden emerges in November.

The leaders could potentially engage during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting held in San Francisco.

Growing Tension Between the US and China

The news about Xi Jinping's attendance at the G20 summit comes amid a continued deterioration of US-China relations over the past year.

The two leaders convened at last year's G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. It marked their first face-to-face meeting since President Joe Biden assumed office, per The Hill.

During this encounter, Biden conveyed to Xi the importance of managing differences between their countries to prevent potential conflicts from arising.

Since then, tensions between the United States and China have escalated across multiple fronts. Areas of contention include technology, espionage, economic competition, and military capabilities.

Close military encounters in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait have intensified these tensions. Incidents like a surveillance balloon event in February and recent revelations of a suspected Chinese spy base in Cuba since 2019 have also contributed to the strained relationship.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed President Joe Biden's visit to India from September 7 to 10th for the upcoming summit.

The president is expected to engage in several bilateral meetings with global leaders, although specific attendees were not disclosed.

In recent months, various high-ranking US officials, including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have visited China, reflecting an endeavor to improve relations between the two nations.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 'Hope He Attends': US' Joe Biden On Xi Jinping Skipping G20 Summit In Delhi - From India Today