COP26, G20 prospects dimmer without China's Xi Jinping in the room

It is a long weekend that has the potential to shape the future. Leaders of the world's most powerful nations will meet in Rome for the Group of 20 Summit, then head to Glasgow for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to cement climate commitments with other countries. But with reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping will not travel to Europe for either event, Western observers are downgrading their expectations of how much can be achieved. According to Bloomberg, Chinese diplomats have already informed G20 nations that Xi will not attend the Rome summit in person , citing China's…