United States President Joe Biden has expressed his disappointment at his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over his plans to be absent from the upcoming G20 summit in India.

“I am disappointed… but I am going to get to see him,” Biden told reporters on Sunday, but did not say when that meeting may take place.

Beijing said on Monday that its premier Li Qiang would lead China’s delegation at the summit in Delhi this week, BBC said.

Xi and Biden last met at the G20 summit in Indonesia last year.

US-China ties remain tense despite a surge of diplomatic visits from Washington this year to revive dialogue.

China’s foreign ministry neither confirmed nor denied Mr Xi’s attendance at the Delhi summit when asked pointedly at Monday’s press briefing.

“Li Qiang will lead Chinese delegation to attend G20 summit. It’s a major and important global economic forum. China has always attached importance on it and actively participated related events,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

But news reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, said last week that Mr Xi does not plan to attend.