China’s Foreign Minister to skip BRICS Delhi meet for ‘scheduling reasons’

There will be no high-level representation from Beijing at Thursday’s (May 14, 2026) meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in New Delhi because of “scheduling reasons”, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).

The May 14-15 meeting coincides with the visit to China by U.S. President Donald Trump, who lands in the Chinese capital on Wednesday (May 13, 2026).

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in Beijing for Mr. Trump’s visit. China will not be sending any other high-level official for the meeting, the Foreign Ministry indicated.

“Due to scheduling reasons, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong will represent Foreign Minister Wang Yi at this Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“BRICS is an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, is always committed to deepening the BRICS strategic partnership, and consolidating the positive momentum of unity and cooperation among BRICS countries. We stand ready to work with all BRICS members to support India, as the Chair, in successfully hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and promoting the high-quality development of ‘BRICS Plus’ cooperation.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) and will on Thursday (May 14, 2026) meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a joint call-on along with other BRICS Ministers from Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.

A meeting in New Delhi last month of Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys of the 11-nation BRICS grouping ended without a joint statement as delegates from the United Arab Emirates and Iran sparred over the war in West Asia.