Xi Jinping Skips Modi’s Dinner
Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend a dinner hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of the BRICS summit. No official explanation was given by his delegation for why he skipped the dinner. However, several reports said he returned to his hotel to rest after the summit and bilateral meetings.
Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi last Saturday to attend the BRICS summit. On the same day, he held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chinese president remained busy with various diplomatic engagements throughout the day.
Citing people familiar with the matter, NDTV reported that Xi Jinping was quite tired after a long flight and the time difference. This was why he did not attend the dinner hosted by Mr. Modi.
Besides Xi Jinping, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed also skipped the dinner. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other BRICS leaders attended.
Indian Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan were present at the dinner. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also attended, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Union ministers and chief ministers travelled in two buses from Parliament House to Bharat Mandapam in central Delhi, where the dinner was held.
The two-day BRICS summit will conclude today. Leaders of the 11 member countries, along with leaders of 10 partner countries and representatives of various international organisations, are attending the summit. On the second day, Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of seven countries.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Modi discussed various aspects of India-China relations with Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders emphasised a long-term and strategic approach to relations between the two countries. They said, “Differences should not turn into disputes.”
At the meeting, Mr. Modi said relations between the two countries should be guided by three principles: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders welcomed the progress made in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Tianjin in August 2025.
