China will not send any high-level representative to this week’s BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, with Beijing citing “scheduling reasons” for the absence.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, which confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would not attend the gathering scheduled for May 14, 2026.
Chinese officials also indicated that no other senior representative would be sent in his place, leaving Beijing without high-level participation at the meeting hosted by India.
Despite the absence, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated Beijing’s commitment to BRICS cooperation, describing the bloc as an important platform for emerging economies and developing nations.
The ministry stated that China remained committed to strengthening strategic cooperation within BRICS and supporting India in its role as chair of the grouping.
The meeting in New Delhi is expected to bring together foreign ministers from BRICS member states, including Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.
Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in India on Wednesday and will participate in a joint meeting with Narendra Modi alongside other BRICS ministers on Thursday.
The development comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions within the expanded BRICS bloc. Last month, a meeting of deputy foreign ministers and special envoys in New Delhi concluded without a joint statement after disagreements emerged between representatives of Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the conflict in West Asia.