Xi Jinping to skip UN General Assembly during US visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping does not plan to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York during his trip to the USA in September. According to Politico, the Chinese leader will limit his visit program to a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on September 24.
Four sources familiar with Xi's schedule told the outlet about his plans. According to them, the Chinese leader may arrive in the USA late in the evening on September 23, hold meetings at the White House on September 24, and leave the country the next day. A trip to New York, where speeches by world leaders at the UN General Assembly will be held starting September 22, is not included in his program.
The White House confirmed that Xi Jinping will visit the White House on September 24, but did not comment on other possible items on his program. The Chinese embassy in Washington also did not provide Politico with a comment regarding the Chinese leader's plans.
Earlier, the date of the Trump-Xi meeting sparked speculation that the Chinese leader could combine negotiations in Washington with participation in the UN General Assembly. The high-level meetings in New York fall on the same week. However, diplomats noted that Beijing has not sent an advance team to the city, which usually prepares for such visits.
Xi Jinping last personally spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York in 2015, when the organization celebrated its 70th anniversary. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he addressed the General Assembly participants via video.
The upcoming summit in Washington was announced earlier. Trump said that during the meeting on September 24, he plans, in particular, to discuss artificial intelligence issues with Xi.
