BEIJING – China’s Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit in South Africa from November 21 to 23, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday.
Ahead of the summit, Li will also participate in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) event in Russia from November 17-18 and make a state visit to Zambia from November 19-20, the ministry spokesperson added.
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The summit comes amid tensions as former US President Donald Trump announced on November 7 that no US government official would attend, citing what he described as “human rights abuses” in South Africa.
South Africa’s foreign ministry criticized the US decision as “regrettable”, firmly rejecting claims that white Afrikaners face persecution in the Black-majority nation. The ministry emphasized its commitment to hosting the G20 summit as an inclusive platform for global dialogue.
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Li’s participation highlights China’s continued engagement in international economic and diplomatic forums, despite the absence of US representatives.