Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the BRICS bloc to act as a peacemaker in the Middle East conflict, addressing member nations at a summit in New Delhi on Saturday.

BRICS as Global South Voice

Xi stated that the ongoing war does not serve the common interests of the international community. He pledged that China would work with fellow BRICS members toward de-escalation, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He described the bloc as a leading group for the Global South, urging innovation-driven development among emerging economies.

The call for an active mediation role comes as the Middle East conflict has rattled global energy supplies and undermined regional stability. The bloc has expanded well beyond its original five members, now including major economies across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. BRICS members represent nearly 50% of the global population and nearly a quarter of world economic output.

Xi confirmed that China will chair BRICS in 2027, hosting the 19th summit. The bloc is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to Western-led institutions and groupings such as the G7.

Diplomatic Thaw With India

Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately, Xi said Beijing views ties with New Delhi from a strategic, long-term perspective, per Xinhua. It marked Xi's first India visit in seven years.

Ties have gradually warmed since the 2020 clash, particularly after a 2024 agreement helped ease the military standoff and Modi and Xi held further high-level meetings.

The 18th BRICS Summit opened in New Delhi on Saturday, bringing together leaders from the bloc's 11 member countries and 10 partner nations. The gathering marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation, with participants aiming to build consensus on development and address global challenges through solidarity.

Summit outcomes and agenda

Leaders at the summit adopted a joint declaration covering security, cooperation, and development. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech reviewing two decades of BRICS cooperation, describing it as a period of self-reliance and self-strengthening. He emphasized that the grouping has safeguarded the common interests of the Global South and provided stability to the world.

Xi called for BRICS to act as a pioneer in pursuing innovation-driven development, upholding peace, and reforming global governance. He proposed an initiative to promote new industrialization through artificial intelligence among member countries, offering deeper cooperation in research, development, and supply chains.

Geopolitical context

The summit took place against a backdrop of surging unilateralism and power politics, which have strained multilateralism and widened deficits in peace, development, security, and governance. BRICS nations now account for approximately 40 percent of global GDP at purchasing power parity and nearly half of the world's population.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the summit, confirming his participation in the key multilateral gathering in India. His presence signals continued diplomatic engagement by Iran within the BRICS forum.

Future leadership

China will take over as the rotating chair of BRICS and host the 19th summit next year. The Chinese side expressed readiness to work with all parties to build consensus and embark on BRICS' third "golden decade." Xi also advocated for deeper cooperation in culture, tourism, and education, including strengthened youth exchanges.