‘What snub?’ Analyst dismisses claims China is snubbing South Africa over President Xi’s G20 absence
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chinese President Xi Jinping pictured at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during a previous state visit. Xi will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, with Premier Li Qiang set to lead a high-level Chinese delegation to the summit.
Image: Timothy Bernard/ Independent Media
Political analyst Angelo Fick has dismissed widespread claims suggesting that the People’s Republic of China is snubbing South Africa, following confirmation that President Xi Jinping will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg later this month.
IOL reported earlier that China has confirmed Premier Li Qiang will represent Beijing at the summit in Johannesburg, leading the Asian giant's high-level delegation to South Africa.
Speaking to the SABC, Fick said people should avoid reading too much into Xi’s absence, as the Chinese leader also missed the previous G20 Summit hosted by India.
“I think we should be very careful about looking for signs and wonders where there aren’t any. This is not the first summit that President Xi has not attended. He also didn’t go to the one in India, and he sent his premier to that one as well.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will lead a high-level delegation to South Africa later this month.
Image: Pedro Pardo / AFP
“We know that President Xi has limited his abroad travel and has gone on a diplomatic set of tours that involved leaders coming to him, including (President of the Russian Federation) Vladimir Putin who went to China.
“My sense is that this has to do with China’s internal issues and the Chinese government actually released a very strongly-worded statement stating that they support South Africa’s presidency of the G20 and will send the highest delegation that is not the head of state to this. I don’t think this is a sign that China is re-aligning away from BRICS or away from its South African partner in BRICS, or away from its Global South priorities," said Fick.
In a report by Xinhua, published on the State Council Information Office of China website on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Premier Li will attend the G20 meeting at the invitation of the South African government.
According to the report, Li will also travel to Moscow for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on November 17 and 18, before making an official visit to Zambia on November 19 and 20.
At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the upcoming visits will focus on strengthening regional cooperation, implementing the outcomes of the SCO Tianjin Summit, and deepening economic and cultural ties.
When asked about China’s expectations for the G20 summit, Lin said the meeting carries “historic significance” as it is being held on the African continent for the first time. He added that China “supports South Africa’s G20 presidency” and is ready to work with all parties under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” to build consensus on multilateralism, open trade, and global development.
Beijing’s confirmation ends speculation over whether President Xi Jinping would travel to South Africa for the summit. His absence follows a pattern seen at several recent international meetings, where Premier Li Qiang has represented China on his behalf.
The G20 Summit, scheduled for November 21 to 23 in Johannesburg, will bring together leaders from the world’s major economies to discuss global economic recovery, sustainable development, and reforms to international financial governance.
However, political analysts have pointed out that China’s decision for Xi not to attend should not be interpreted as a boycott. Unlike the United States and Argentina, whose leaders are skipping the meeting for political reasons, Beijing has made clear that it supports South Africa’s G20 presidency and intends to engage fully in the summit’s proceedings through Premier Li.
China’s participation through Premier Li Qiang underscores its continued commitment to multilateral forums and cooperation with Africa, even as the global political landscape around the G20 becomes increasingly fractured.
Earlier this week, IOL reported that Argentina’s President Javier Milei would not be attending the G20 leaders’ summit scheduled for Johannesburg, aligning with a boycott of the key meeting backed by United States President Donald Trump.
According to reports in Argentine media, Milei will instead send Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno to represent the country, along with G20 negotiator Federico Pinedo.
The decision marks a show of solidarity with Trump, who announced that the United States would not participate in the G20 summit in South Africa, citing alleged human-rights abuses against Afrikaner farmers in the country.
Milei’s decision is viewed as a diplomatic setback for South Africa, which is hosting the G20 for the first time — the first time the summit is being held on African soil.
Argentina is one of three Latin American members of the G20, alongside Brazil and Mexico, and has historically taken part in the forum’s highest-level meetings. Analysts in Buenos Aires say the president’s choice underscores his administration’s close alignment with the United States and a shift away from traditional multilateral engagement.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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