Washington: US President Joe Biden is not planning to hold an official meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, the NBC broadcaster reported on Friday, citing US administration officials.
On Thursday, Biden said he hoped to see Xi at the G20 summit in New Delhi despite media reports that the Chinese leader would skip the gathering. Even if Xi attends the event, interaction between the two leaders will most likely be limited to official greetings and the exchange of pleasantries, the US officials told the broadcaster.
However, the two presidents may still hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in San Francisco this fall, officials told the broadcaster, adding, however, that no talks had been confirmed yet.
“I have no doubt if [Xi] were to come [to the APEC conference] it would be productive,” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told the broadcaster.
The G20 summit will be held in the Indian capital of New Delhi from September 9-10, while the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week will take place in San Francisco in November.
