Biden is disappointed that Xi may skip the India G20 Summit. US Vice President Joe Biden expressed disappointment over reports that his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, will not attend this week’s G20 summit in New Delhi.
“I am disappointed, but I am going to get to see him,” Biden told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Sunday when asked about indications Xi will not join the leaders’ summit.
The location of their potential following meeting was not disclosed by Biden. If Xi chooses not to go to Delhi, he and Biden might meet when the US hosts the APEC summit in San Francisco in November.
According to officials familiar with the summit preparations who spoke on condition of anonymity, Xi does not intend to travel to India for the summit.
The decision, which comes as tensions between China and India are rising, is likely to further sour relations between the two countries.
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As Biden disappointed that Xi may skip India G20 Summit, according to a source familiar with the situation, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in place of Xi, while a second source claimed it would be a different unnamed government official.
When Biden and Xi last spoke, it was in November on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia. However, their conversation was cut short when an alleged Chinese spy balloon allegedly flew over the US.
The two nations have deep-seated differences on a number of issues, ranging from Taiwan—which was exacerbated in part by US lawmakers’ visits to the island and the president of Taiwan’s visit to the country—to Biden’s export restrictions on semiconductor technology, allegations of Chinese spying from Cuba, and the balloon incident.
High-ranking members of the Biden administration, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Climate Envoy John Kerry, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, have visited China recently in an effort to strengthen ties.
The G20 summit in India was anticipated by the US to be the next step in de-icing the relationship with China.
Last week, Biden stated that he “hopes” Xi will attend the summit.
