Biden disappointed Xi will not attend G20 summit

Joe Biden has said he is “disappointed” China’s Xi Jinping won’t be attending the upcoming G20 summit in India. 

“I am disappointed… but I am going to get to see him,” the US president told reporters on Sunday but did not say when that meeting may take place.

Beijing announced that its Premier Li Qiang would lead China’s delegation at the summit in Delhi this week.

Xi and Biden last met at the G20 summit in Indonesia last year. 

US-China ties remain tense despite a flurry of diplomatic visits from Washington this year. 

China has not yet confirmed nor denied Xi’s attendance at the G20 summit in Delhi, but news reports citing unnamed sources, said last week that Xi does not plan to attend. 

“Li Qiang will lead Chinese delegation to attend G20 summit. It’s a major and important global economic forum. China has always attached importance on it and actively participated related events,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.