Brics is returning China once again, as President Xi Jinping announced that Beijing will assume the bloc's presidency next year.

He spoke on Saturday in the Indian capital New Delhi, at the opening of the two-day annual Brics Leaders' Summit.

Xi told the gathering that the 11-member group should "oppose violations of other countries' sovereignty and interference in their internal affairs, (and) constructively participate in resolving hotspot issues," according to Xinhua news agency.

Other leaders attending the summit in the Indian capital include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose country has been at war since US-Israeli strikes against it on February 28.

"As the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region continues to evolve, the war there has caused serious losses to people across the region," Xi said.

Xi noted that the Brics cooperation mechanism has become world's most influential platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. He also called on countries to "uphold the authority of the United Nations".

With Beijing set to assume the bloc's chairmanship in 2027, Xi said China will work with Brics members to play "due role in achieving peace, tranquility in Middle East and Gulf region".

In a joint statement issued on the first day, members of the bloc called for calm in the Middle East.

"We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective national positions, call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation," said the statement.

Meanwhile, Xi also proposed at the conference an initiative on “AI-empowered new industrialisation” designed to deepen collaboration on supply chains. He invited all brics nations to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, a Beijing-led initiative aimed at supporting the Global South share AI tools and set fair rules together. (Agencies)




Edited by Azam Khan


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Last updated: 2026-09-12 HKT 21:05