China, Turkey set to skip G-20 meet in Kashmir

China and Turkey are among G-20 member nations likely to skip a tourism working group meeting slated from May 22-25 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, while several other states may have low-level participation in the forthcoming event, according to sources. China had earlier skipped a G-20 meeting held in Arunachal Pradesh in March.

The G-20 meeting in Srinagar is the first major international event in the valley when since the abrogation of Article 370, which happened in 2019. Experts are of the view that the mega event is likely to have a positive impact on the tourism and trade sectors of the region.

Stringent security arrangements were put in place in place around the venue, Sher-e-Kashmir International Conventional Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the Dal Lake. At present, it is not clear whether Indonesia, the last president of the G20 and a member of the grouping’s troika, would participate in the meeting or not.

Several reports, however, mentioned that Saudi Arabia and Mexico are expected to be represented by diplomats from their embassies in New Delhi instead of officials from their respective capitals.