Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening for the G-20 summit, marking his first major international diplomatic test, although he is relatively unknown in this role.
Mr. Li previously attended the East Asia Summit in Jakarta this week, but the G-20 presents its own set of challenges due to its higher profile and the presence of Western leaders who have been critical of China, particularly regarding its stance on the Ukraine crisis. This crisis is a major point of contention that could potentially disrupt the issuance of a joint communique at the G-20 for the first time in its history.
His visit to India occurs at a time of strained China-India relations. As of Friday evening, officials from both sides indicated that no plans had been made for a structured bilateral meeting. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Li will have the opportunity for informal interactions on the sidelines of the G-20. It is unlikely that substantive talks on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) situation will take place since Mr. Li, unlike previous Premiers such as Wen Jiabao, primarily deals with economic matters. The role of the Premier has been significantly downgraded under the leadership of Mr. Xi Jinping.
In anticipation of his arrival, Ma Jia, the charge d’affaires and acting envoy at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, called on both countries “to restore development as the centrepiece on the international agenda.”
Chinese officials and experts have criticized the “politicization” of the G-20, arguing that it should focus on economic issues rather than political crises like Ukraine.
While China has not officially provided a reason for President Xi Jinping’s absence from the summit, observers view it as a signal of China’s displeasure with the West and an effort to avoid potential pressure or isolation in the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Some reports have suggested domestic political reasons for Xi’s absence, such as mounting economic challenges, although he recently spent over two days in South Africa for the BRICS summit. The G-20 visit, in contrast, would likely have only required a day-long presence. Furthermore, Xi is currently away from Beijing, the political center, on a tour of China’s northeast and will host Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in the coming days.
Regarding bilateral ties, Ms. Ma stated that “current China-India relations are generally stable.” She noted that the two leaders, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi, have maintained communication through face-to-face interactions and that the border situation is also stable. Diplomatic and military channels have been used for communication.
One desired outcome of China’s visit is a relaxation of restrictions on investment in India. Liu Hong, Vice-President and Senior Fellow of the Centre for China and Globalisation (CCG) in Beijing, mentioned that China hopes to see a return to normalcy in flights, visas, and greater two-way movement of businesspeople and citizens between the two countries, which would benefit both nations.
India has emphasized that normalcy is contingent on restoring peace along the Line of Actual Control. However, the Chinese military has been slow in disengagement negotiations and the restoration of India’s patrolling rights.
