SEOUL, South Korea — Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the Group of 20 Summit in New Delhi, India, marking the first time he has skipped the meeting of leaders of the world’s largest economies since becoming China’s top official in 2013.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Monday that Premier Li Qiang, not Mr. Xi, will attend the G20, which will be held Saturday and Sunday.

President Biden said he was “disappointed” that he would not meet his Chinese counterpart at the G20. But Mr. Biden added, “I am going to get to see him.”

It is not clear whether that comment referred to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting, set for San Francisco in November.

The Foreign Ministry did not say why Mr. Xi, who attended the Aug. 22-24 BRICS Summit in South Africa, was skipping the high-profile meeting in India.

Speculation about his absence has noted territorial tensions between China and host country India, domestic issues that may require Mr. Xi’s attention and the idea that the Chinese president wants to participate in fewer events where his prestige is not guaranteed.

• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.