Xi Jinping Boosts Global Diplomacy With Key State Visits Ahead of Trump Summit
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The itinerary marks a notable shift for the Chinese leader, who has sharply curtailed foreign travel in recent years.
A Rare Departure From Beijing
Xi’s busy travel schedule is a significant gauge of his priorities, according to Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo, who spoke to CNBC. The Chinese leader has ventured abroad only once this year, taking a state visit to North Korea in June.
Security and Diplomacy in Bishkek
Xi landed in Bishkek on Sunday alongside First Lady Peng Liyuan, according to Anadolu and Getty Images coverage. The Chinese leader described bilateral ties as entering a “golden period” of rapid development.
The security-focused SCO summit runs Monday and Tuesday, gathering leaders from Russia, India, and other non-Western nations. The event addresses rising global stakes, including trade tensions and security risks.
Weighing Global Responsibilities
“It’s time for China to probably take bigger responsibility, provide more global public goods,” Hai Zhao, a director of international political studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told CNBC, citing China’s deep integration into the global economy and its role in supply chain security and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
High-Stakes Stops in Egypt and India
Following the Bishkek summit, Xi plans to make his first state visit to Egypt in a decade, focusing on bilateral economic and trade cooperation in the Suez Canal region.
Xi is then expected to attend the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi from September 12 to September 13. While China has not officially confirmed his participation, the trip would mark Xi’s first visit to India since 2019 and follow deadly border clashes between the two countries in 2020.
Washington Keeps Watch
Washington is closely monitoring developments at both the SCO and BRICS summits as the U.S. navigates trade talks and tariff policies with India and China, alongside efforts to address Russia’s war in Ukraine.