Defence
Chinese Premier Li Qiang Replaces President Xi Jinping At G-20 Summit As IAF Begins 11-Day Military Exercise Along The LAC
Chinese President Xi Jinping (Twitter/@realXi_Jinping)
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit in Delhi this weekend.
With this confirmation, all the speculations about Chinese President Xi Jinping presence in the G-20 summit have been put to an end.
The statement from the foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that Premier Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi on 9 and 10 September hoping that the summit will strengthen consensus, instill confidence, and promote development.
"At the invitation of the government of the Republic of India, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the 18th G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, India, on September 9 and 10," Ning said adding that "China hopes the summit can consolidate consensus, convey confidence and promote development."
Ning also emphasised that China has always attached great importance to and actively participated in relevant events.
Premier Li Qiang will use this opportunity to express China's thoughts and positions on G20 cooperation, urging for unity and cooperation within the G20 and collaboration in addressing global economic and development challenges, news agency AFP reported.
This confirmation comes on the same day (4 September) when Indian Air Force (IAF) has started an eleven-day long mega military exercise, codenamed 'Trishul' along the line of actual control (LAC).
Alongside the IAF, the Army has also started its own exercise in Ladakh, where more troops have been inducted into the Ladakh theatre. Troops in line for rotation have also been temporarily held back to participate in the exercise.
According to reports, this is the best time to conduct military exercise during the season and will help in familiarisation of new troops in their area of operations.
No explanation has been provided for Mr. Jinping's absence, and it is likely that he will also not attend the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits in Jakarta, Indonesia, as well.
The announcement comes shortly after a global controversy surrounding a new 'standard map' that claims territories from various nations as its own, including Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin.
President Jinping is now the second world leader to decline attending the summit in India.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would be unable to attend and instead plans to send Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his place.
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