China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, will not attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting scheduled for May 14–15 in New Delhi, with Beijing citing “scheduling reasons.”
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, will represent China at the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Wang Yi is expected to remain in Beijing for the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is due to arrive in China on Wednesday.
In a statement, China said it continues to attach importance to BRICS cooperation and is ready to work with all member states to support India’s chairmanship and strengthen the “BRICS Plus” framework.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday. He and other BRICS ministers are scheduled to meet Narendra Modi on Thursday.
A preparatory meeting of deputy foreign ministers held in New Delhi last month ended without a joint statement after disagreements between delegates from the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the war in West Asia.
