Why Chinese president Xi Jinping reduced foreign travels? What’s happening in China?
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Beijing: President Xi Jinping of China appears to be having no time to travel abroad to connect with international leaders.
His days are packed fully to work out the kinks of falling economy, mounting domestic problems and political scandals, according to Bloomberg.
His sole travel abroad in the first half of a year was a visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in March.
In the pre-covid days, Xi travelled abroad more frequently than US president Trump back then.
Between 2013 and 2019, he annually made 14 foreign trips, while Trump pulled off only average 12 visits, the report said citing a data compiled by the Eurasia Group.
Rather than climbing skies to visit other national capitals, Xi received in Beijing leaders representing 36 nations that include France, Eritrea and the US this year.
During the pre-pandemic days, he hosted ‘an average of 48 dignitaries’ annually.
He is not willing to supplement his decreasing foreign travel with video calls.
Xi Jinping’s reduced interaction with foreign leaders could adversely affect China’s international relations.
It could blunt China’s ability to compete with the US adding to its decreasing influence due to souring ‘foreign policy’.
Back home China is struggling to stop inflation, post-pandemic slump, political issues as manifested most recently in the ousting of China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang for no specific reason.
Meanwhile, Wen-Ti Sung who is ‘non-resident fellow at Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, reportedly said that President Xi Jinping has more serious matters to take care of at home.