A big priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government at present is to somehow ensure China’s President Xi Jinping’s physical presence in New Delhi on 9-10 September for the G20 Leaders' Summit. The Chinese leader hasn’t confirmed his participation to keep his hosts on tenterhooks so that Beijing can exploit the uncertainty and suspense for its own ends.
On 11 August, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi publicly confirmed that Xi is yet to confirm his participation in the G20 event. At the weekly media briefing, he told a reporter who wanted to know whether Xi had confirmed his participation, that he would “certainly share the information when we are in a position to do so”, openly admitting that China has so far made no commitment whatsoever about Xi’s attendance despite India sending him an invitation.
The MEA spokesperson, in fact, threw up his hands and egged on the journalist to find out directly from the Chinese government whether he was coming or not. Bagchi’s whole demeanour revealed that India is really in the dark – it simply can’t fathom if Xi is going to turn up or play hooky.