Xi Jinping skipping G20 summit in South Africa despite its global significance
Chinese leader Xi Jinping (photo: Getty Images)
Chinese leader Xi Jinping will not attend the G20 summit scheduled for late November in Johannesburg, South Africa, according to a report by Bloomberg.
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country will be represented at the meeting by Premier Li Qiang. The reasons for Xi Jinping's absence are not disclosed.
This decision came as a surprise to the international community, as the Chinese leader had attended a similar summit the previous year and actively used such platforms to strengthen Beijing's influence on the global stage.
Analysts believe that declining to participate in this year's summit may be part of a "home-court diplomacy" strategy — an approach in which China receives key partners on its own territory. This year, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have already visited Beijing.
Despite this, experts do not see Xi's decision as a sign of retreat from global influence. Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, noted that China continues to view the G20 as a crucial platform for conveying its positions to the world.
The summit in South Africa will be the first held on the continent of Africa. Representatives of the world's largest economies will participate, but without the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia — three key players in the group.
The event will begin on November 22 in Johannesburg.
Also, US President Donald Trump will not attend the G20 summit scheduled for November 22–23 in South Africa.
