Speculation has arisen regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping’s absence from the dinner hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honor of world leaders attending the BRICS summit. Questions have been raised—particularly given the long-standing tensions between India and China—as to why Xi did not attend the event. However, Xi Jinping was not the only one absent; Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed also did not attend the dinner.
A report by the Indian media outlet NDTV stated that Xi Jinping and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed were among the BRICS leaders who did not participate in the dinner hosted by Modi.
Xi Jinping arrived in Delhi on Saturday afternoon. Subsequently, he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and participated in various programs associated with the BRICS summit. The day was packed with a series of important meetings and diplomatic engagements. It is reported that the Chinese President was quite exhausted after participating in such a busy schedule following a long flight.
Citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, NDTV reported that Xi Jinping could not attend Modi’s dinner due to physical fatigue caused by the time difference and the long journey. The sources indicated that his continuous engagement in scheduled events after arriving in Delhi also contributed to his exhaustion.
However, despite Xi’s absence, other BRICS leaders—including Russian President Vladimir Putin—were present at the dinner. Several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from various Indian states also participated.
Indian leaders who attended the dinner included Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also present at the event.
Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the dinner. Union ministers and chief ministers of India traveled by bus from the Parliament House to Bharat Mandapam in central Delhi for a dinner event.
The two-day BRICS summit is scheduled to conclude on Sunday. Leaders from the 11 BRICS member nations and 10 partner countries, along with representatives from several international organizations, are participating in the event.
On the final day of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from seven countries. Earlier, on Saturday, Modi and Xi Jinping discussed various aspects of India-China relations and articulated their respective positions and views during a meeting.
A statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs noted that both leaders emphasized the importance of ensuring that differences do not escalate into disputes. They also agreed on the need for both India and China to adopt a long-term, strategic perspective to advance their bilateral relationship.
