2023-09-04 12:47:19
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit of the G20 in Inde next weekend, announced Monday, September 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thus seeming to confirm the probable absence of the President Xi Jinping.
“At the invitation of the Indian government, Prime Minister Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, on September 9-10,” ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a statement.
Last week, a European official on condition of anonymity told reporters in Brussels that Chinese President Xi Jinping was not planning to attend the G20 summit.
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The American President Joe Biden said he was “disappointed” with this absence. “I’m disappointed, but I’ll be able to see it,” he told reporters, without giving further details.
Asked regarding this Monday during a regular press briefing, Mao Ning did not confirm Xi Jinping’s non-participation, contenting himself with announcing that Li Qiang “would lead a delegation” to India.
“The G20 is an important forum for international economic cooperation,” the spokeswoman said. “By attending this meeting, Premier Li Qiang will convey the thoughts and positions of the Chine on cooperation in the G20, calling on the G20 to strengthen unity and cooperation and working together to address global economic and development challenges”.
5% growth target for China
The G20 brings together the largest economies on the planet, i.e. 19 countries and theEuropean Unionwhich together account for 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population.
China, the world’s second largest economy, is aiming for growth of around 5% for 2023, but the objective will be difficult to achieve, in a context of low consumption, record youth unemployment and a real estate crisis.
“We are willing to work with all parties to jointly promote the success of the G20 summit and actively contribute to fostering stable global economic recovery and sustainable development,” Mao Ning also said.
President Xi has attended all G20 summits since coming to power, with the exception of Rome in 2021, in the midst of the Covid crisis, which he participated in via videoconference. His probable absence from New Delhi comes a few weeks following the summit of Brics in South Africa, where Xi Jinping went.
The Chinese leader had discussions with the Indian Prime Minister there. Narendra Modihost of the G20 summit, in a rare face-to-face meeting, but tensions remain high between the two countries.
European officials hope the G20 summit will be an opportunity to try to get India and China to get tougher on Russia over the invasion.Ukraine.
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