TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6–7, 2025. His absence has drawn considerable attention, as he has consistently participated in BRICS forums since taking office more than a decade ago.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the summit. The ministry cited a scheduling conflict as the reason for Xi’s absence but did not provide further details.
This marks the first time Xi has skipped a BRICS summit, despite China's founding role in the bloc.
"Considering how important China is to BRICS, his decision not to come would have a negative impact on the summit - no question about that," said Oliver Stuenkel, a lecturer in International Relations at the School of International Relations at Fundacao Getulio Vargas, as quoted by Channel News Asia.
Speculation has emerged regarding Xi's decision, with some linking it to domestic political developments. Between May and June 2025, Xi was absent from public view for two weeks. According to Channel News Asia, this absence may have been connected to internal strategic discussions, including the drafting of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
Some analysts argue that Xi’s absence could diminish China’s influence within BRICS. Stuenkel explained that China may find it harder to advance its priorities in the forum without Xi’s personal engagement, particularly in informal discussions with other leaders.
As reported by The Hill, China has taken an increasingly controversial role in BRICS, seeking to expand the alliance as part of its geopolitical strategy against the West. Beijing has advocated for the inclusion of new members such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Iran, with little concern for their political stability or their contributions to the bloc.
Tensions between China and India also complicate BRICS internal dynamics. China's close ties with Pakistan (India’s regional rival) across political, military, and economic fronts, along with ongoing trade disputes, have further strained relations between the two Asian giants.
In addition to Xi’s absence, Russian President Vladimir Putin is also not attending the summit in person. Facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Putin is participating virtually. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is representing Moscow at the summit.
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