Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to skip the upcoming BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi due to scheduling conflicts, according to multiple reports. China is likely to send a senior deputy foreign minister in his place for the high-level diplomatic gathering being hosted by India on May 14–15.

The development comes at a crucial time for BRICS, as India currently holds the 2026 chairship of the bloc and is attempting to strengthen cooperation among member nations amid growing geopolitical tensions. The meeting in New Delhi is expected to focus heavily on the ongoing West Asia crisis, energy security, global trade disruptions, and multilateral cooperation.

According to reports, Wang Yi’s absence is linked to preparations surrounding the expected visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to China during the same period. Beijing appears to be prioritising those engagements, leading to the decision to send a substitute delegation to India.

Despite the absence of China’s top diplomat, the BRICS meeting is still expected to witness significant participation from other major members. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already confirmed his attendance, while representatives from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are also expected to participate.

The gathering is particularly important because it may become the first face-to-face interaction between Iranian, Emirati, and Saudi officials since the recent escalation of conflict in West Asia. BRICS members have struggled to reach a unified position on the regional crisis, exposing internal differences within the expanded grouping.

India’s BRICS presidency in 2026 is focused on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” New Delhi is expected to use the ministerial meeting as a platform to strengthen the Global South’s voice and prepare for the larger BRICS Leaders’ Summit later this year.

Although Wang Yi’s absence may slightly reduce the diplomatic weight of the meeting, analysts believe China’s continued participation through a deputy minister indicates that Beijing still considers BRICS strategically important. The move is being viewed more as a scheduling adjustment rather than a diplomatic snub toward India.