U.S. President Joe Biden expressed disappointment that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would not be attending the G20 summit in India. It is a missed opportunity for the two leaders to engage in person as the United States seeks to improve relations with China.
When asked about Xi’s reported absence from the New Delhi summit, Biden told reporters, “I am disappointed, but I am going to get to see him,” without providing further details.
The relationship between the United States and China is marked by numerous challenges. They include trade disputes, tensions over Taiwan’s future, and China’s presence in the South China Sea. Despite these challenges, the United States has been working to rebuild a more constructive working relationship with China. In recent months, the country has sent senior officials to engage in dialogue with China.
It was announced that Premier Li Qiang would represent China at the G20 summit instead of Xi. While Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held face-to-face talks at the BRICS group summit in South Africa, tensions persist between the two countries.
Relations between China and India have been strained since a violent clash along their Himalayan border in 2020. The clash resulted in casualties on both sides. These tensions have contributed to the cautious approach to diplomatic interactions between the two nations.
