Beijing (AP) – It would have been natural for China’s leader XI Jinping to deal with it United Nations General Assembly This is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. But he doesn’t.
Instead, Premier Lee Qian At this week’s annual meeting, XI speaks on the latest example of reducing overseas travel and delegating assignments to loyal mid-Li. His leadership style, although not particularly strong, pushes to fall into a more prominent role, appears to be more powerful.
The decision not to go is somewhat surprising. China I quote it regularly The crucial role of the United Nations as an alternative to what they consider to be bullied. XI gave a speech on the 70th anniversary of the United Nations in 2015. In the 2020 video 75 days due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is possible that the delicate state of US-China relations played a role. Both sides hope that XI will meet President Donald Trump, but this week it may have been shown little as the two governments remain locked in trade negotiations.
Trump I said last week They will meet at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation China has not confirmed this, but there will be a Korean summit at the end of October.
For xi, it was there, it did it
Xi Qing, a leader in China for 13 years, was his first seven unstoppable world traveler. he I rode at Buckingham Palace In a carriage in 2015, I met President Donald Trump at the US leader Mar-A-Lago resort in 2017.
Covid-19 then collided. After the pandemic, he became like a homebody. He skipped a group of 20 leaders meetings in India in 2023, BRICS Summit It’s worth noting in Brazil this year, as China sees grouping as a counterweight to America’s global domination. Li instead represented China.
In part, times have changed.
Earlier in his term, XI succumbed to increasing China’s international height and role. Belt and Road Initiative and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Successfully he became more selective about his trip. Meanwhile, China’s growing influence means that foreign leaders are still gathering in Beijing to meet XI. European Union Leader I came in JulyIt was Europe’s turn to hold a summit with China.
“My guess is… xi feels that others in the world should come to Beijing.
Li Qiang will appear at the United Nations General Assembly
When Li was named the country’s second-ranked leadership position in 2023, expectations were low.
He was the best official in Shanghai for two months COVID-19 Blockade It paralyzed the city It sparked a protest. Instead of being punished, Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, has been promoted to top leadership, showing how loyalty is prioritized in the XI era.
Neil Thomas, a Chinese political fellow at the Asian Association Policy Institute, said that if XI retreat, it could emerge as an important interlocutor for governments and businesses that want to engage with China.
Li is holding talks at the United Nations this week with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Kearney and Austrian Prime Minister Christian Tocker to derive government status on development and climate.
A significant change, He announced Tuesday China will no longer seek the benefits it has given developing countries in the world trade talks.
Thomas described him as “an incredibly important person” who leases during a UN conference. “He’s acting on behalf of Xi,” he said. “You can relay messages between Xi and the world.”
The xi representative works, but not power
Thomas believes age may be a factor as the 72-year-old XI (who shows no signs of resignation) tries to maintain his health.
“In my view, Xi Jinping’s decision to travel less is that it’s a strategic one designed to save his energy as he ages and ultimately strengthens his strength, as he is in more people and is in a better health,” Thomas said.
He sees a decline in travel as part of a wider change in which Xi controls what Thomas calls “more oral leadership style.” He increasingly delegates to lower control from policy decisions.
It is possible because he stacked Communist Party leadership with loyalists such as Lee The last modification of 2022eliminating what remains of opposition. The ultimate power, by all appearance, stays in his hands.
“He’s delegating,” Wu said. “It’s not decentralization or structural change. He asks people to do things on his behalf.”
