G20 Summit in India: US President Biden says 'looking forward to India trip'

News Summary:

• Biden disappointed by Xi's absence at G20 in New Delhi
• Biden excited for India trip, G20, and Modi meeting on Sept 8
• G20 agenda includes climate, Russia-Ukraine, and more
• India hosts 18th G20 Summit as culmination of its presidency

Delaware: Voicing disappointment over his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping not attending the G20 summit in New Delhi, US President Joe Biden on Sunday said that he was looking forward to his trip to India this week.

President Biden will arrive in India next week to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8, on the sidelines of the summit, the White House recently announced.

To a question from a reporter if he was looking forward to his visits to India and Vietnam, Biden replied, "Yes, I am." 

During the summit in the national capital on September 9 and 10, Biden will commend PM Modi for his leadership of the G20, the White House said earlier this week.

“The President will travel to New Delhi, India to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. On Friday, the President will participate in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the White House said in its week-ahead schedule of the President released on September 7.

During his visit to India, Biden, along with fellow G20 partners, will discuss a range of joint efforts to tackle global issues, including the clean energy transition and combatting climate change, mitigating the economic and social impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and increasing the capacity of multilateral development banks. "

India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1 last year. The 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi will mark a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year.

(With ANI inputs)