- Xi Jinping will be clocking up air miles this week, zipping from Beijing to Bishkek to Cairo and back.
- The Chinese President is set to make rare state visits to Egypt and, likely India, before his expected trip to the U.S. in late September.
- Xi landed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Sunday for the SCO summit.
- After their SCO meeting, Xi and Modi are expected to meet in New Delhi for the BRICS summit.
- Last year, as the U.S. imposed tariffs against Beijing and New Delhi, a clip of Xi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin laughing together at the SCO summit in Tianjin went viral.
- In February this year, Trump announced that he would reduce tariffs on India from 50% to 18%, and the two countries are in the process of negotiating a trade deal.
- Trump also made a landmark visit to China earlier this year, and Xi is expected to visit Washington in September, after the BRICS summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is gearing up for a series of state visits, including stops in Egypt and India, before heading to Washington in late September. This marks a significant shift as Xi has curtailed foreign travel in recent years, making this busy schedule a key indicator of his diplomatic priorities.1267
Xi's visit to India will be his first since 2019, following deadly border clashes between the two nations in 2020. The backdrop of these visits is critical, as U.S.-China relations remain tense, particularly with the imposition of tariffs and ongoing trade negotiations. Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo, noted that Xi's travel plans reflect a need for China to take on a larger global role, stating, "It's time for China to probably take bigger responsibility, provide more global public goods."5
The upcoming visits are also significant in light of Xi's participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan, where he is expected to engage with leaders from various nations. This diplomatic push comes as former President Trump has made notable visits to both China and India, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. As Xi prepares for these engagements, the world watches closely to see how these interactions will shape future relations between China, the U.S., and India.
“Xi's travel marks a sharp reversal from his curtailed foreign trips, signaling a priority shift, per Teneo's Gabriel Wildau. The SCO and BRICS summits also provide a platform for Xi-Modi talks, with both sides agreeing last week to work on resolving border disputes.”
CNBC
