TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday, September 1, 2023, that Prime Minister Li will attend the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on September 5-7, 2023. The information subsequently confirmed that China's President Xi Jinping will skip the summit this year.

Xi Jinping is also likely to skip a summit of G20 leaders in India next week, sources familiar with the matter in India and China told Reuters, a development that would dash chances of a meeting there with US President Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, Biden, as confirmed by the White House will not attend the summit and will be represented by VP Kamala Harris. Biden is set to attend the G20 Summit in India instead.

Xi Jinping and Biden last met in between the G20 Summit in Bali, in November last year. The two major powers are attempting to stabilize their declining relations amid a series of trade and geopolitical tensions.

ASEAN Summit this year will be attended by 22 countries and 9 international organizations. In addition to ASEAN members including Timor Leste, the summit will also be participated by nine ASEAN dialogue partners, and the members of the East Asia Summit; South Korea, Japan, India, China, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, and the US.

Two additional invitations were sent to Bangladesh, the current chair of the Indian Ocean Rin Association, and the Cook Islands, the chair of the Pacific Island Forum. The UN and IMF will also send their delegates to attend the ASEAN Summit.

President Jokowi will lead 12 meetings during the ASEAN Summit. In between the series of meetings, the state leader will also hold bilateral meetings with Indonesia's partners until September 8, 2023.

Minister Retno has recorded 13 countries intending to meet with Jokowi during that time.

REUTERS | DANIEL A. FAJRI

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