By Mukesh 
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, adding that “China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, and 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,” the statement said.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday at a weekly press briefing that the meeting scheduled for May 14-15 will be chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Visiting Foreign Ministers and heads of delegations from member and partner countries, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The discussions will focus on pressing global and regional issues of mutual concern among member states of BRICS,” Mr. Jaiswal said, adding that the second day would see discussions on reviewing the group’s evolution and future direction, and reforms of global governance and the multilateral system.
The gathering this week takes place against the backdrop of the crisis in West Asia and divisions within the grouping, leading to doubts over whether the meeting will yield a joint statement. 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.