India takes center stage, hosting 11 member nations representing 47 percent of the global population amid geopolitical shifts.
NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to hold bilateral meetings with both leaders on the sidelines. The summit, scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13 at the Bharat Mandapam, marks Xi’s first visit to India in seven years.
Modi will welcome the expanded 11-member grouping, which collectively accounts for 47 percent of the world’s population and about 40 percent of global GDP based on purchasing power parity. The agenda centers on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.
Putin’s attendance marks his second visit to India in under a year following a bilateral summit in December 2025. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the leaders will discuss defence, trade, and nuclear energy.
The summit brings together the original BRICS members — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — along with newer additions including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE. Leaders from 10 partner nations will also attend.
A New Delhi Declaration will be released at the conclusion of the two-day diplomatic gathering.
