Chinese President Xi Jinping to skip BRICS summit in Rio, Premier Li Qiang to lead delegation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to skip BRICS summit in Rio, Premier Li Qiang to lead delegation.

In a significant development for the upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been informed to miss the event. According to a government official familiar with the matter, Xi will not attend the summit, which is scheduled to take place next month [1].

The Chinese government has announced that Premier Li Qiang will represent President Xi at the summit. The Brazilian government official, who requested anonymity, confirmed this arrangement. Despite the absence of a public reason for Xi’s unavailability, Brazil does not seem concerned about his absence, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already engaged in substantial discussions with Xi during recent meetings [1].

The BRICS summit, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is a crucial forum for economic cooperation and strategic dialogue among these major emerging markets. The decision by Xi Jinping to skip the event may have implications for the group's agenda and the broader geopolitical landscape. However, the Brazilian government has reassured that the absence of Xi will not impact the summit's proceedings.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-25/china-tells-brazil-xi-jinping-will-miss-brics-summit-in-rio