Xi is likely to skip the summit and Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to represent Beijing at the meeting in New Delhi, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters..reports Asian Lite News
US President Joe Biden said on Sunday (Sep 3) that he was disappointed that Chinese President Xi Jinping was not attending the summit of G20 leaders in India, but added that he was going to “get to see him.”
“I am disappointed … but I am going to get to see him,” Biden told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, without elaborating.
Biden will visit India from Sep 7 to 10 for a summit of the Group of 20 nations, followed by a trip to Vietnam as his administration seeks to strengthen US relations in Asia.
Xi is likely to skip the summit and Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to represent Beijing at the meeting in New Delhi, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters.
Asked if he was looking forward to his trip, Biden said, “Yes, I am.”
“I want a little more … coordination. I think they both (India and Vietnam) want much closer relations with the United States and that can be very helpful,” Biden said.
The G20 Summit in Delhi will be held over two days, on September 9 and 10. The two-day summit will draw leaders and delegates from 40 countries, including the 20 member states…reports Asian Lite News
It is almost certain that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the G20 Summit in India next week, instead of President Xi Jinping, who will skip the conclave, said people familiar with the development.
“The Chinese President is not traveling to India for the G20 Summit. Premier Li is likely to represent China at the Summit,” said one of the people cited above on the condition of anonymity.
However, Jinping’s absence does not reflect anything about the host country as many leaders in the past skipped the G20 Summits for various reasons.
“There are some media reports that some heads of state may skip the G20 Summit in India. These things do not reflect anything about the host country,” he added.
In addition, President Xi is also skipping the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asia summits in Jakarta next week.
The G20 Summit in Delhi will be held over two days, on September 9 and 10. The two-day summit will draw leaders and delegates from 40 countries, including the 20 member states.
Apart from Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi his decision to not attend the summit in person as he has to focus on the “special military operation” in Ukraine.
After attending the East Asia summit in Jakarta, the Chinese Premier is likely to travel to India. In 2021, Chinese President Xi did not travel to Italy to participate in the G20 summit due to China’s COVID-19 restrictions.
However, it is pertinent to note that there is no official word either from China or from India on who will represent Beijing at the upcoming G20 summit.
From 2008, there were 16 physical summits of the G20, and one virtual summit (Saudi Arabia, 2020). There were two summits each in 2009 and 2010. Out of these, except the first three summits in 2008 and 2009, there has never been a single occasion from 2010 till now when every country has attended at the Heads of State (HOS) or Heads of Government (HOG) level, the people cited above said.
“The level of attendance at global summits varies from year to year. In today’s world with so many demands on the leaders’ time, it is not always possible for every leader to attend every summit,” one of the sources said.
The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest…reports Asian Lite News
Chinese President Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and people, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Friday.
The Chinese President met PM Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest.
“President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples, and is also conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region. The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border region,” the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said.
PM Modi during the conversation with Xi, highlighted India’s concerns at the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with the two leaders agreeing to direct their relevant officials “to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation”.
Addressing a press conference on India’s participation at the 15th BRICS summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Prime Minister Modi had interactions with other BRICS leaders during the summit.
He said PM Modi in his conversation with the Chinese President underlined that the maintenance of peace in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China ties.
“Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of China, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China border areas. Prime Minister underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship,” Kwatra said.
“In this regard, the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation,” he added. (ANI)
CO Hwy 133 is seen covered with mud after a mudslide, south of Redstone, Colorado, the United States, on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Peter Mertz/Xinhua/IANS)
Xi’an city immediately set up an onsite command centre and deployed 14 rescue teams, including firefighting and police departments with more than 980 personnel to carry out search, rescue and disaster relief operations…reports Asian Lite News
21 people have died and six others are missing as of Sunday evening after heavy rainfall lashed Xi’an region of China’s Shaanxi province, and led to mountain floods and mudslides on Friday evening, Global Times reported.
The heavy rain, mountain floods and mudslides hit a village in Chang, a district in Xi’an around 6 pm on Friday. Two houses and 21 sections on the National Highway 210 have been damaged due to the disaster, according to Global Times report.
In addition, the disaster has damaged three electric power supply infrastructures and left 900 households out of power, Global Times reported citing Xi’an Bureau of Emergency Management.
Xi’an city immediately set up an onsite command centre and deployed 14 rescue teams, including firefighting and police departments with more than 980 personnel to carry out search, rescue and disaster relief operations.
Furthermore, 1,100 units of equipment and tools including life detectors, satellite phones, excavators, and search and rescue dogs have been deployed to conduct search, rescue and disaster relief operations, according to Global Times report.
As of Sunday evening, 186 residents have been relocated and resettled and three severely damaged sections of the National Highway 210 have been restored. Work is being carried out on 21 slightly damaged road sections and communication services have been restored in 49 impacted regions. In the meantime, power supply has been restored to 855 households.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that two houses in the village were washed away, with nearby roads, bridges, power supplies and other infrastructures damaged. The Xi’an detachment of the armed police force in Shaanxi deployed over 100 personnel to the impacted area. Preliminary search and rescue operations are being conducted in the affected area.
As of Sunday morning, rescue forces had shifted 81 residents and 11 vehicles to safe locations, and were providing assistance to find four deceased villagers, Global Times reported. A local villager said that flooding and mudslides began following one or two hours of heavy rain on Friday afternoon.
Local fire department, police and emergency management authorities have been making efforts to coordinate rescue operation. After receiving the report, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a working group to the disaster site to assist with rescue and response efforts. (ANI)
The meeting is expected to discuss key issues like terrorism, regional security and prosperity…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on Tuesday, with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping in attendance.
Besides China and Pakistan, the virtual summit which will be attended by the other SCO member states including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
India currently holds the SCO Presidency.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be present at the summit. This will be his first appearance at an international forum after Russia crushed a coup attempt by the Wagner mercenary group late last month.
The meeting is expected to discuss key issues like terrorism, regional security and prosperity.
The theme of the SCO summit is ‘SECURE’ — S: Security; E: Economic development; C: Connectivity; U: Unity; R: Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; E: Environmental protection.
Other than the member countries, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have also been invited as Observer States.
According to the SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the Chair.
Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office, and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years…reports Asian Lite News
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, the State Department said, as America’s top diplomat wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing aimed at easing soaring tensions.
A Blinken-Xi meeting had been expected, but neither side had confirmed it would happen until just an hour before the talks, which are seen as key to the success of the trip. A snub by the Chinese leader would have been a major setback to the effort restore and maintain communications at senior levels.
Blinken is the highest-level U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office, and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years. His visit is expected to usher in a new round of visits by senior U.S. and Chinese officials, possibly including a meeting between Xi and Biden in the coming months.
The encounter with Xi comes on the second and second and final day of Blinken’s critical meetings with senior Chinese officials. The two sides have thus far expressed willingness to talk but have showed little inclination to bend on hardened positions that have sent tensions soaring.
Blinken met earlier Monday with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi for about three hours, according to a U.S. official. Neither Blinken nor Wang made any comment to reporters as they greeted each other and sat for their discussion.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a statement that Blinken’s visit “coincides with a critical juncture in China-U.S. relations, and it is necessary to make a choice between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict,” and blamed the “U.S. side’s erroneous perception of China, leading to incorrect policies towards China” for the current “low point” in relations.
It said the U.S. had a responsibility to halt “the spiraling decline of China-U.S. relations to push it back to a healthy and stable track” and that Wang had “demanded that the U.S. stop hyping up the ‘China threat theory’, lift illegal unilateral sanctions against China, abandon suppression of China’s technological development, and refrain from arbitrary interference in China’s internal affairs.”
Despite Blinken’s presence in China, he and other U.S. officials had played down the prospects for any significant breakthroughs on the most vexing issues facing the planet’s two largest economies.
Instead, these officials have emphasized the importance of the two countries establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.
The State Department said Blinken “underscored the importance of responsibly managing the competition between the United States and the PRC through open channels of communication to ensure competition does not veer into conflict.”
In the first round of talks on Sunday, Blinken met for nearly six hours with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang after which both countries said they had agreed to continue high-level discussions. However, there was no sign that any of the most fractious issues between them were closer to resolution.
The two sides both said Qin had accepted an invitation from Blinken to visit Washington but Beijing made clear that “the China-U.S. relationship is at the lowest point since its establishment.” That sentiment is widely shared by U.S. officials.
Blinken is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and his two-day trip comes after his initial plans to travel to China were postponed in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.
Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications “precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications,” Blinken said before leaving for Beijing.
His talks could pave the way for a meeting in the coming months between Biden and Xi. Biden said Saturday that he hoped to be able to meet with Xi in the coming months to take up the plethora of differences that divide them.
That long list incudes disagreements ranging from trade to Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In his meetings on Sunday, Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.
Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions Friday, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates that the United States and China can cooperate to “benefit our two countries.”
Since the cancellation of Blinken’s trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while China’s commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi in Vienna in May.
But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.
And, earlier this month, China’s defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.
The two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine…reports Asian Lite News
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that his country supports Palestine in becoming a full member state of the United Nations.
Xi made the remarks during his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday.
The two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine, Xinhua news agency reported.
“China and Palestine are good friends and good partners who trust and support each other,” Xi said, adding that China was one of the “first countries to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine”.
“China has all along firmly supported the Palestinian people’s just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights and worked for a comprehensive, just and durable solution of the Palestinian question at an early date,” he said.
The Chinese President called on both sides to take the establishment of strategic partnership as an opportunity to continue supporting each other on issues of core concern, advance cooperation in various areas, deepen partnership in jointly building the Belt and Road, speed up negotiations on the China-Palestine free trade agreement, share experiences on national governance and further the traditional friendship.
Xi stressed that the Palestinian question has remained unresolved for over half a century, “causing great sufferings to the Palestinian people; justice must be done to Palestine as soon as possible”.
“China stands ready to play a positive role to assist Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promote peace talks,” he said.
“China is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Palestine and other developing countries, enhance coordination in international and regional affairs, advance China’s cooperation with Arab states, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice,” Xi added.
Palestinian President Abbas said that Palestine supports China’s position on issues concerning its core interests and follows the one-China principle, adding that Palestine will work with China to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen bilateral cooperation and build a community with a shared future for humanity.
“Palestine backs the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, and speaks highly of the China-mediated talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” Abbas added.
After their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of documents on bilateral economic and technological cooperation.
On April 24, 2023, President Xi Jinping accepted credentials presented by 70 ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal said in a press release…reports Asian Lite News
Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, the Nepali Ambassador to China, has finally presented his letter of credence to Chinese President Xi Jinping, eight months after his appointment to the post, Pardafas.com reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials from Ambassador Shrestha at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Shrestha was appointed as ambassador in August of last year by then President Bidya Devi Bhandari, following the recommendation of the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, Pardafas.com reported.
Nepal PM Deuba flags Neighbours’ First policy nailing special ties with India followed by China (Indianarrative)
During the occasion, Xi said China is willing to work with the international community to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and advocate the common values of humanity, Pardafas.com reported.
On April 24, 2023, President Xi Jinping accepted credentials presented by 70 ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal said in a press release.
Risk for Nepal’s eocnomy
China’s involvement in Nepal has been rapidly increasing, and it is making its presence felt in various sectors, Pardafas.com reported. A decade ago, China was not interested in getting involved in the internal politics of Nepal, but nowadays it is actively increasing its role in the country’s power struggle. In the recent House of Representatives elections, there was a noticeable surge in Chinese officials’ eagerness for the Communist Party’s unification or coalition.
A few years ago, China played a facilitating role in the formation of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) by bringing together two prominent political parties in Nepal, the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) party and the Maoist Center, Pardafas.com reported.
Chinese involvement is seen not only in politics but also in charge of development projects, tourism, trade and other sectors of dominance and digital crime. As Chinese activities and interference are increasing in every field, there are signs that Nepal’s sovereignty will be threatened in the future.
Especially when a landlocked country like Nepal has to play a balanced role with all its neighbours, the increasing activity of the Chinese has increased the possibility of teasing other countries, Pardafas.com reported. (ANI)
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden. During the phone-call, the two leaders had spoken about Macron’s visit to China…reports Asian Lite News
Chinese President Xi Jinping today held a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Beijing, Xinhua reported. On Wednesday, Macron arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit to China at the invitation of Xi.
Taking to his official Twitter handle, Macron said that he will discuss about climate, business, bio-diversity and food security with Xi Jinping. Macron’s visit to China comes amid Europe’s efforts to find a path to peace in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He tweeted, “I am convinced that China has a major role to play in building peace. This is what I have come to discuss, to move forward on. With President XI Jinping, we will also talk about our businesses, the climate and biodiversity, and food security.”
On April 5, Macron addressed the French community in China, the Elysee Palace said in a statement. He began by saluting the medical and nursing staff and the management of French schools and teachers for their sense of duty during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his speech, Macron spoke about the objectives of his visit to China.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that he wants to engage China in shared responsibility for peace and stability, strengthen the trade ties between France and China and reinitiate a common framework for action on major international issues such as the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity.
Macron recalled the importance of reviving cultural ties between France and China in 2023 to prepare for the year 2024, which will be the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the year of Franco-Chinese cultural tourism and the year of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between France and China., according to the Elysee Palace statement.
French President visited the RedBrick museum in Beijing to attend the opening of the 17th edition of the Festival Croisements. He noted that this festival remains the largest foreign festival in China with 15 million spectators since its creation, according to the statement.
Earlier on April 4, Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden. During the phone-call, the two leaders had spoken about Macron’s visit to China.
The White House said in a statement, “The two leaders discussed President Macron’s upcoming travel to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). They also reiterated their steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.” (ANI)
Xi, who called Putin his “dear friend,” praised his Russian counterpart, saying the country’s development had “significantly improved”…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Kremlin, has said his country is “always open for a negotiation process”.
Putin made the remarks on Monday in response to China’s “plan settle ongoing Ukraine crisis”.
The plan aimed to “end the Russia-Ukraine war” was released by China in February. However, the US has warned it could be a “stalling tactic”.
“The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Calling for a ceasefire that does not include the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest,” Blinken added.
Talks between the two leaders lasted four and a half hours on Monday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Further formal meetings are expected to follow on Tuesday.
Xi, who called Putin his “dear friend,” praised his Russian counterpart, saying the country’s development had “significantly improved”.
“Both sides exchanged in-depth views on the Ukraine issue,” reported Xinhua news agency, describing the leaders’ meeting as “in-depth and candid.”
Earlier, Speaking at informal talks at the start of Xi’s state visit to Moscow, Putin also said that Russia was “slightly envious” of China’s rapid development in recent decades.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and the United Kingdom have called on the Chinese leader to use his influence and press Moscow to end the war.
The UK said that China should back up its support for the respect of territorial integrity and demand that Russia end its war in Ukraine.
“We hope President Xi uses this opportunity to press President (Vladimir) Putin to cease bombing Ukrainian cities, hospitals, schools, to halt some of these atrocities that we are seeing on a daily basis,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said as Xi and Putin meet in Moscow.
Kyiv expects China to use its influence on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said.
“Ukraine is following the Chinese President’s visit to Russia closely,” Nikolenko said in a statement to Reuters shortly after China’s Xi arrived in Moscow for talks with Putin.
“We expect Beijing to use its influence on Moscow to make it put an end to the aggressive war against Ukraine.”
Kyiv says any negotiations surrounding a peace deal must involve a full withdrawal of Russian troops and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
“We stand ready to engage in a closer dialogue with China in order to restore peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and the latest UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) resolution on this matter,” Nikolenko said.
China’s release last month of a 12-point statement of broad principles on the war that called for respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, resuming peace talks, resolving the humanitarian crisis, protecting civilians and prisoners of war (POWs), keeping nuclear power plants safe, reducing strategic risks, facilitating grain exports, stopping unilateral sanctions, keeping industrial and supply chains stable and promoting post-conflict reconstruction.
But Western leaders have expressed scepticism about China’s potential role as a peacemaker and its claimed neutrality. The United States and its allies have instead since last month warned that China is considering sending lethal aid to Russia for its war effort, which Beijing has denied.
Xi also told Putin in talks at the Kremlin that he was “convinced” that Putin enjoyed the Russian people’s support ahead of a presidential election scheduled for next year, reported Reuters.
Speaking through an interpreter on the first day of his state visit to Russia, President Xi also thanked Putin for what he said was his support for China and said that Beijing should have close relations with Moscow.
This is the first time China’s leader has visited his neighbour and close strategic partner since Russia-Ukraine started on February 24th, 2022.
Xi’s visit comes days after the International Criminal Court in the Hague accused Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine and issued a warrant for his arrest.
Xi’s trip is likely to be seen in some Western capitals as a ringing endorsement of the Russian leader in the face of broad international condemnation of his war.
Putin launched his invasion days after he and Xi declared a “no limits” partnership last February.
Since that time China has claimed neutrality, but backed Kremlin rhetoric blaming NATO for the conflict, refused to condemn the invasion, and continued to support Moscow financially by significantly increasing purchases of Russian fuel.
On Friday following the announcement of Xi’s Moscow trip, the White House expressed concerns about potential proposals from China that would be “one-sided and reflect only the Russian perspective.”
For example, a proposal for a ceasefire – which China has repeatedly called for – would merely provide a way for Russia to regroup before launching a reprisal, said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council.
