Xi Prioritizes Trump Summit Over U.N. General Assembly, Signaling Shift

Chinese President Xi Jinping chose a bilateral summit with President Trump over attending the U.N. General Assembly, underscoring Beijing's preference for direct great-power engagement over multilateral forums. The move highlights the U.N.'s diminished relevance amid gridlock and signals a recalibration of China's diplomatic priorities toward the U.S. This development matters as it reflects a broader trend of bilateralism superseding multilateralism in global governance.