China’s president calls for respect for sovereignty, UN authority and a rejection of protectionism at the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI, INDIA —Web Desk: Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged BRICS member states to oppose violations of national sovereignty and interference in countries’ internal affairs as leaders of the expanded bloc gathered in New Delhi amid conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Speaking at the BRICS summit on Saturday, Xi called on members to play a constructive role in resolving international hotspots and uphold the authority of the United Nations, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua, as reported by AFP.
“As the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region continues to evolve,” Xi said the war had caused serious losses across the region, according to Xinhua.
Xi calls for rejection of protectionism
Xi also urged BRICS countries to reject all forms of protectionism and support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.
His remarks come amid heightened global trade tensions and less than two weeks before his expected visit to Washington, where trade relations between China and the United States remain a major issue.
BRICS has previously called for stronger multilateral trade cooperation and expressed opposition to unilateral trade-restrictive measures and protectionism. Official BRICS documents have stressed the importance of the WTO-centered multilateral trading system.
Xi meets Modi amid China-India thaw
Xi arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the summit, marking his first visit to India since 2019.
His visit is being closely watched as Beijing and New Delhi seek to improve relations following years of tensions, including a deadly 2020 military confrontation along their disputed Himalayan border.
Xi is expected to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the border dispute, trade relations and broader bilateral ties likely to feature prominently.
Despite signs of improving relations, significant differences remain between the two Asian powers, including their unresolved territorial dispute, trade imbalance and wider strategic rivalry.
BRICS faces divisions
The two-day summit is taking place against the backdrop of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global trade uncertainty and concerns over energy security.
The expanded BRICS grouping now includes 11 members, including China, India, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc was established as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in global institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers.
BRICS foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May, highlighting divisions within the expanded group.
Analysts have described the conflict in the Gulf as a major fault line for the summit, with differences among members making consensus increasingly difficult
