I've started to read in Japanese a lot more because of how important the skill is for the JLPT, but I've noticed in articles and more formal writings, even in the news, A lot of people use the い-stem of a godan verb, or the stem of an ichidan verb instead of the て-form. Take this sentence for example:
各国の首脳を迎え、習主席の両隣にプーチン大統領とキム総書記が並んで天安門広場を見渡す楼閣にのぼりました。
It's worth noting that this sentence is WAY above my paygrade, but here they use 迎え instead of 迎えて, even though the て-form would work perfectly fine (I think). I'm also not entirely sure if it's consistent, because I definitely have seen the て- form used in articles and on the news.
What situations should you use the い-stem in vs the て-form? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
by Expert-Estate6248