Putin And Xi Get Ready To Attend The G20 Summit

Business August 29, 2022

The world was shocked when the news about the Russian attack on Ukraine broke out in early 2022. It was an invasion that wreaked havoc on the entire world and led to a severe energy crisis and, subsequently, a worsening economic situation. However, another shocking news surfaced recently too: the Chinese president and Russian President will both be attending the G20 summit. The source of this news was none other than Indonesian President Joko Widodo. This is considered the first confirmation that both leaders of the two countries will be participating in the summit meeting that will be held in November of this year. President Widodo revealed in an interview with Bloomberg that he spoke to his Russian counterpart, who confirmed his attendance at the summit.

Why Does This News Hold Significance?

For starters, this summit meeting will be the first global meeting of the world leaders after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the rise in tensions surrounding China and Taiwan. For the Chinese President, this will be the first time since 2020 that the president will be stepping out of China after it had sealed off its border due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Joe Biden, U.S. President, will most likely also attend this conference but there is no confirmation whether he will meet with the Russian president or not. But, some reports have indicated that the U.S. and Chinese presidents will meet during or before the summit.

Getty Images | This is going to be the first meeting of global leaders after the Russian-Ukraine war.

The Indonesian President’s Efforts

Earlier, Washington had demanded that the Russian membership in the G20 summit be revoked over the invasion of Ukraine; they also called for uninviting the Russian President to the November meeting. On the other hand, Indonesia is taking the role of a peacemaker between the two countries, and the President talked about the importance of regional stability, peace, and economic growth. Mr. Widodo also highlighted the severed ties between U.S. and Russia and called their rivalry worrying.

The Indonesian leader also revealed that both countries, Ukraine and Russia, have accepted Indonesia as a bridge of peace. He was the first Asian leader to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the meeting, Mr. Widodo called for ending the war and working towards solving the global food crisis.

What Is Next For Chinese-US Relations?

It is no secret that the ties between China and the US have weakened by a great deal. This was followed by the U.S. politician Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which then led to China conducting military drills that lasted around a week in Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers its rightful territory. The U.S. responded and condemned the military action and branded it as irresponsible. For Taiwan, these military drills were considered to be a rehearsal for an upcoming invasion.