This Week Will Likely Mark the End of Xi Jinping’s 971 Day Absence From International Diplomacy

Handout provided by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of who is expected to attend this week's summit in Uzbekistan.

The last time Xi Jinping traveled abroad was a trip to Myanmar on January 17, 2020. This week, the Chinese president is widely expected to end his nearly three-year absence from international diplomacy when he heads to Central Asia for a state visit to Kazakhstan on Wednesday and then to neighboring Uzbekistan, where he’s scheduled to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Thursday and Friday.

It’s important to note, however, that even though it looks very likely that President Xi will, in fact, make the trip to Central Asia this week, there have been no official confirmations from the Chinese side. There is still the (albeit apparently remote) possibility that the President won’t attend in person. 

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity
5
Chinese-Moroccan Joint Venture Inaugurates EV Battery Parts Plant
6
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington

You Might Like

Both Xi and Putin to Attend Upcoming G20 Summit Says Host Indonesia

Speculation over President Xi Jinping’s re-emergence on the international stage gained new energy late Friday with word that the Chinese leader would attend the November G20 leaders summit in Indonesia. Andi Widjajanto, former ...

Xi-Putin Meeting Looms Large As Chinese President Arrives in Uzbekistan

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in a blaze of media attention, especially around his possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting could have implications for the Ukraine crisis and ...

Xi, Putin and Modi in Central Asia

By Lukas Fiala With all eyes on Xi Jinping’s first foreign trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a flurry of commentators have been dissecting the significance of Xi’s meeting with Vladimir Putin on ...

What It Takes To Compete Against the Chinese in Africa

Remember all those exciting Africa summits that took place last year? The Russians and Turks each had one, as did the Europeans, and the 

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP