External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reacted to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the G20 Summit saying their representatives are coming "with great deal of seriousness". In an interview with news agency ANI, the Union minister said that the absence of the two leaders will not cast a shadow on the Summit to be hosted by India on September 9 and 10. "I think, at different points of time in G20 there have been some Presidents or PMs who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to come themselves. But that country and its position is reflected by whoever is the representative on that occasion," he said.
"I think everybody is coming with a great deal of seriousness," he added.
On Monday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi will be attended by Premier Li Qiang while giving no reason for Jinping's absence.
While, Putin last month told Modi in a telephonic conversation about his inability to attend the Summit and informed that Russia would be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
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"My sense from talking to the ministers, certainly, and I know the Sherpas are in touch with each other, they are right now trying to hammer out the final document. I think everybody is coming with a great deal of seriousness,” he said.
On being asked if the absence of the two world leaders would cast a shadow on the Summit, Jaishankar said, “I do not think it has anything to do with India. I. I think whatever decision they make, they would know best.”