Wed Jul 02 10:03:17 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Chinese President Xi Jinping will surprisingly skip the upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Premier Li Qiang will attend in his place. This is notable as Xi has attended every BRICS summit since taking power. The reason for his absence was not provided. The summit, expanded with new member nations, will also be attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This absence raises questions about future potential Modi-Xi meetings, with the SCO summit in China later this year being the next possibility. China emphasized the importance of BRICS in promoting multilateralism, global governance, and cooperation among developing nations.

**News Article:**

**Xi Jinping to Miss BRICS Summit; Premier Li to Attend**

**Beijing – July 2, 2025** – In a surprising move, Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this week. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced today that Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the summit, which takes place from July 5th to 8th.

The announcement marks the first time President Xi will miss a BRICS summit since assuming office twelve years ago. The Foreign Ministry did not provide a reason for his absence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is confirmed to attend the summit, which is particularly significant given the recent expansion of BRICS to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Last year’s BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, saw a crucial meeting between Modi and Xi, breaking a four-year deadlock in bilateral relations. The absence of a meeting in Rio casts doubt on the continuation of that momentum. The next potential opportunity for a Modi-Xi meeting is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, to be held in China later this year.

Mao Ning emphasized China’s commitment to the BRICS forum, stating it is “the most important platform for solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries” and a “key force in advancing an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalisation.” She noted this year’s event included new members and various participating organizations. China hopes to strengthen the BRICS partnership, promote multilateralism, and improve global governance through this summit.

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