Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the July 6–7 BRICS summit in Brazil, marking his first absence from the gathering since taking office in 2013. Premier Li Qiang will lead China’s delegation instead—a move officially blamed on a “scheduling conflict” despite Xi already meeting Brazilian President Lula this year.
Experts warn the no‑show may signal internal turbulence and declining influence for Xi within China’s power hierarchy. Noted U.S.–China analyst Gordon Chang tweeted, “There are signs he’s lost control of the military and that civilian rivals are reasserting power”. Observers point to signs of recent reticence, such as a 14-day public absence in Beijing earlier this summer.
Xi’s absence reinforces behavior by fellow autocrat Vladimir Putin, who will attend only via video link. Together, their absence casts doubt on BRICS’s coherence and China’s strategic commitment to the bloc. Critics argue that this reduces Xi’s ability to shape global governance and raises India’s profile—Prime Minister Modi will now be the summit’s most prominent in-person leader.
