China's Foreign Minister Will Not Attend BRICS Meeting in Delhi

China’s Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will not participate in the upcoming BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi, scheduled for May 14-15, 2026. The Ministry indicated that the decision was due to 'scheduling reasons'. This announcement comes as the meeting coincides with a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing, beginning on May 13, 2026.

The absence of a high-level representative from Beijing has raised questions regarding China's engagement in this key international forum. Instead, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong will stand in for Wang Yi at the meeting. The Ministry reiterated that China values BRICS cooperation and is committed to strengthening its strategic partnerships within the group.

The spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated, 'China attaches great importance to BRICS cooperation and remains dedicated to enhancing relations among member countries.' This sentiment underlines China's ongoing interest in BRICS and its desire to promote collaborative efforts among the members.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will chair the upcoming meeting, which is expected to see participation from various foreign ministers and delegates, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During the sessions, topics of global and regional significance will be addressed, with hopes of reviewing the group's evolution and discussing potential reforms of global governance.

However, previous meetings have been marred by discord. For instance, a recent gathering in New Delhi involving Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys of the BRICS nations concluded without reaching a consensus on a joint statement. Disagreements were particularly notable between delegates from the United Arab Emirates and Iran concerning the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

The upcoming BRICS meeting will test the group's cohesion against this backdrop of geopolitical friction. Observers are pondering whether the discord will affect the ability of member states to produce a unified statement following the discussions. The outcome remains uncertain as the meeting approaches.