Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

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

by Eric Olander
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. 

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

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 ...

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 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.

Subscribe