China and Russia Heads Skip G20 Summit: Leaving a Puzzling Question About Top Leader Presence

In a surprising turn of events in early September, it has been revealed that the heads of state of China, Xi Jinping, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, will be absent from the G20 Leaders Summit on September 9 and 10. However, government sources have pointed out that the participation of every country with their heads of state or heads of government in such summits has been a rare occurrence since 2008.

This time, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are not expected at the G20 Leaders Summit in Delhi. (Image: AP/File)

In a world filled with demands on the time and attention of global leaders, attendance at international summits often fluctuates from year to year, including the G20 Summit. This time, the heads of government (HOG) or heads of state (HOS) of Russia and China are not expected at the summit.

Since the first G20 Summit in 2008, only the first two summits witnessed the attendance of heads of state or heads of government from all participating countries. In 2021, six countries were represented below the HOS and HOG level at the G20 summit. This was before the Ukraine war and soon after the Covid pandemic.

In 2022, there were three countries represented below that level after the Ukraine war had broken out. On nearly six occasions before that as well, there were either one or two countries not represented by their HOG or HOS.

Saudi Arabia has been represented nine times below HOS or HOG and was once represented by a minister of state without a portfolio in 2017. The Mexican president has not attended the G20 summit since 2018 while Russia, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina have not had high-level representation on two occasions apiece.

Canada, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union have never been represented below HOS or HOG level at G20 summits. Therefore, the fact remains that while some countries consistently send their top leadership to G20 summits, others occasionally opt for lower-level representation.

This can be attributed to different factors, including domestic priorities, international crises, and the availability of leaders. The example of the 2021 G20 summit in Italy stands out. Despite the absence of major geopolitical or health reasons, six countries attended below the HOS or HOG level. This underscores the complex dynamics that can influence summit participation.

Importantly, these fluctuations in attendance should not be seen as a reflection of the host country. The G20 summit serves as a platform for collaboration and dialogue on pressing global issues, and its effectiveness relies on the engagement of its members regardless of their level of representation. In a world where leaders juggle myriad responsibilities, it’s only natural that not every summit has full attendance at the highest level.