Chinese President Xi Jinping outlines four points to ensure the long-term, steady development of China-India relations.

First, the two sides should adopt an objective and rational strategic understanding to set the right direction. “This strategic judgment is based on the development stage and international circumstances of both countries and serves the common interests of the two nations and their peoples,” according to reports.

Second, the two sides should help each other succeed through cooperation and mutual benefit. Both should focus on development as their greatest common interest, strengthen friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, expand collaboration in areas such as people-to-people exchanges and direct flights, and improve public support for bilateral relations. They should also address trade and economic concerns in a balanced manner and promote the healthy and stable growth of economic ties.

Third, the two sides should use political wisdom grounded in mutual respect and understanding to remove obstacles. They should pursue progress on bilateral relations and the boundary question in parallel, ensuring that each supports the other, and maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas.

Fourth, the two sides should advance openness and inclusiveness through multilateral cooperation. They should support each other’s BRICS presidencies, strengthen cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20, work together to address global challenges, and firmly uphold international fairness and justice. 

- Ananth Krishnan

Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took note of the progress in people-to-people ties and underscored the need to further promote cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility between the two countries. On economic and trade relations, they underlined the need to address each other’s concerns, including structural trade imbalance and supply chain issues, and facilitation of meaningful and predictable market access.

The two leaders agreed that both sides must continue to expand common ground on regional and global issues, and in addressing challenges, said a statement by MEA.

“Prime Minister appreciated China’s support for India’s BRICS chairship and its contributions towards the success of the BRICS Summit-2026,” reads the statement.

- Suhasini Haider

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told ‌China’s President ‌Xi ‌Jinping that peace ⁠and ⁠tranquility in ‌border ‌areas remain ⁠an essential basis for continued ⁠development ⁠of ‌bilateral relations, reported India’s Foreign Ministry.

The leaders underscored ‌the ‌need ‌to ⁠further ⁠promote business ‌linkages ‌and greater ⁠mobility ‌between ‌the two ⁠countries.

- Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting today that China views ties with India from a strategic and long-term perspective. 

Mr. Xi said China, India can learn from each other’s strengths, achieve shared development during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. 

China, India should join hands for high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation He said both countries can learn from each other’s strengths, achieve shared development. 

China, India should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, he said, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. 

- Ananth Krishnan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The two leaders welcomed the steady progress in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. 

They reaffirmed that both countries should take a strategic and long-term perspective of their ties. 

Mr. Modi highlighted that both sides must be guided by three mutuals: mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest, said a statement by the MEA.

- ANI

CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby described the BRICS grouping as a “very positive development” in international politics and said its strategic importance could not be wished away despite internal problems among its member countries.

Speaking at the sidelines of a programme marking the second death anniversary of former CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Mr. Baby said BRICS brought together important countries from different continents, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

“You see, the BRICS phenomenon was a very positive development in international politics,” he said, noting that the grouping comprised countries from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Mr. Baby said BRICS “would have developed as a very powerful countervailing force to the US domination over the world”, but added that there had been internal problems within the grouping.

- PTI

During the MEA briefing, Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary, MEA Economic Relations, said that the member nations opposes any unilateral action contrary to international law in trade practices.

Mr. Haldar has also said that the point is present in “para 22 of outcome document on our position.”

- Suhasini Haldar

“At BRICS session, members spoke from their respective positions, but there was a recognition they need to work together on strengthening multilateralism. They all stressed on the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve ongoing conflicts,” said Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary, MEA Economic Relations.

Mr. Dalela has said that Mr. Modi spoke of the BRICS troika, a roadmap for global governance reform, a seafarer distress network and a BRICS Global South mechanism to help youth study new and emerging technology skills.

- Suhasini Haidar

It was reported that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed various regional and international issues, along with the importance of supporting de-escalation efforts, reducing tensions, and achieving stability in the region, as well as enhancing opportunities for peace and development for its peoples.

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet at the sidelines of the summit.

- Reuters

China is set to chair the BRICS in 2027.

The XXI BRICS summit will be held in China.

- The Hindu

In the New Delhi Declaration 2026, BRICS said that they take cognisance of UNSC Resolution 2803 and called for the implementation of the relevant UNGA and UNSC Resolutions. They further urged all parties to ensure the maintenance of the ceasefire and full and unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip. 

BRICS also calls for halting any policies aimed at forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza Strip and expresses concern regarding arrangements that may prejudice the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and legitimize or prolong occupation.

“We reaffirm that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means and depends on the fulfilment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the rights to self-determination and return,” reads the Declaration.

- The Hindu

BRICS has called for equitable geographical representation in the UN Secretariat and other international organisations, saying developing countries remain persistently underrepresented, particularly in senior and decision-making positions. The grouping also called for greater participation of women, especially from emerging markets and developing countries, in leadership roles. It said the appointment of UN executive heads and senior officials should be based on transparency, inclusiveness and broad geographical representation, in line with Article 101 of the UN Charter. 

BRICS further stressed that no single country or group of countries should have a monopoly over senior positions in the UN system.

The declaration also noted the historical lack of regional diversity in the post of UN Secretary-General, pointing out that no woman has ever been elected to the position, while representation from Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia has remained limited.

- Delhi decleration 2026

The Global South must become a “rule shaper” to deal with various challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

In his opening statement at the summit, Mr. Modi said BRICS has established a distinct identity on the global stage and the grouping is not against anyone, remarks seen as a message to the U.S. and other Western powers.

“Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of the decision-making process. We must transform this ‘pyramid of privilege’ into a ‘platform of partnership ’-one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every effort,” Mr. Modi said.

“In this regard, I propose that we jointly formulate 10 proposals for global governance reform, aiming to shape them into a BRICS reform roadmap by the time of the next summit,” Mr. Modi said.

-PTI

Indian negotiators have managed to reach a consensus, sources confirmed to The Hindu, indicating that differences between Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia over the wording of the paragraph relating to the ongoing war have been resolved.

Read more:

PM Modi, in his address to BRICS, proposed a 10-point proposal for global governance.

“I propose that, together, we come up with 10 proposals for global governance reform that can become a BRICS Reform Roadmap by the time of the next Summit,” he said.

In the context of representation, UN reform cannot be delayed any longer, he said.

“Voting power, leadership positions and policy priorities in global financial institutions should be governed by economic realities. We must transform the Global South from rule takers to rule sharper,” Mr. Modi said.

“From voice to impact, from privilege to partnership, this can be the message of BRICS at 20,” Mr. Modi added.

-T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address, said India’s Presidency of the BRICS has taken the approach of being people-centric and humanity-driven.

“Resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability have been our priorities.”

“With these priorities, we have placed special emphasis on connecting BRICS cooperation with ordinary citizens. With this approach, more than 350 meetings have been organised across nearly 30 cities, allowing us to welcome your teams to India,” Mr. Modi added.

“This year’s BRICS Summit is historic. It is the 20th anniversary of BRICS,” PM Modi said.

It is the point in a life when responsibility is added to the dreams of youth, he added.

“We are not against anybody, but work with the thought process of trying to move ahead with everybody. In the next 20 years, we have to work on a new and ambitious agenda. We have to start with our own working systems. The BRICS Presidency changes every year, but institutional momentum should not slow,” Mr. Modi said.

-T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan

Flags of all the nations participating in the BRICS Summit have been put up at the BRICS 2026 International Media Centre in New Delhi, reflecting the grouping’s diverse membership and the presence of leaders and delegations from across the World.

During the welcome of BRICS leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the leaders against the backdrop of the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, PM Modi also gave a copy of the Russian translation of Thirukkural -- the classical Tamil poem collection authored by the legendary poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

-Suhasini Haidar

The BRICS group of emerging economies has agreed on a joint declaration, sources told Reuters today, hours before its leaders began ⁠a summit in New Delhi, aiming to boost the bloc’s global clout.

The summit, hoping to bridge divisions between members Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the Gulf conflict, is being held as the United ‌States and Iran resume tit-for-tat strikes in their six-month-old war.

That followed a pause in fighting for much of August, while the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in ‌Yemen tightened their grip in the Red Sea region.

Negotiators had agreed on a joint ‌declaration ⁠unlikely to name any country, but which will condemn unilateral war by ⁠any country, four sources told Reuters, adding that the bloc’s leaders were expected to approve the document later today.

The Foreign Ministry of India did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the declaration.

-Reuters

Inspired by the Indian concept of ‘Sangam’ -- meeting of rivers -- artists from various member countries of BRICS have come together to create a large-scale thematic mural at the Summit venue, symbolising friendship and a confluence of cultures.

The vibrant canvas, born out of the “BRICS Friendship Mural project”, is displayed on a wall inside the main Bharat Mandapam building, which houses the Summit Room, a senior official of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the cultural arm of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said.

It was created under the theme “Sangam: Confluence of Cultures” and brings together the diverse artistic traditions of the BRICS member countries in a single collaborative public artwork.

-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince of the Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, during which they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in strategic and emerging areas, including defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation.

During the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the two leaders reiterated the significance of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and recalled the recent successful visits of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to India in January 2026, and of Mr. Modi to the UAE in May 2026.

“The leaders acknowledged the progress achieved in bilateral relations in a wide range of sectors,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “They positively noted the announcement by the UAE’s International Holding Company to invest in the development of a $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, India’s largest integrated aluminium investment.” 

The project, the statement added, is expected to position Odisha as a global aluminium manufacturing hub.

The leaders also acknowledged the role that L’Imad, as the UAE’s newest sovereign investment fund, could play in further deepening the India-UAE partnership.

“The leaders welcomed the positive outcomes within BRICS during India’s Chairship and agreed that the two countries would continue to work closely through the platform to advance shared interests and priorities and further strengthen BRICS cooperation,” the statement said.

-T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan

Suspense mounts over whether leaders at the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi will reach a consensus on a joint declaration, amid sharp divisions between Iran and the UAE over the West Asia conflict, even as India works to shield the Global South from growing geopolitical turmoil.

Multiple diplomatic sources told PTI that hectic consultations are underway to arrive at a consensus on the thorny issue, but added that negotiations could go down to the wire as both Iran and the UAE harden their positions.

In a strategic balancing act, New Delhi is looking to leverage the summit to position the grouping as a complementary engine for economic growth while being mindful of sensitivities of the United States and other Western powers, especially in the trade and energy domains.

- PTI

“I am optimistic” of a positive outcome from the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Delhi, said an author and top corporate advisor R. Gopalakrishnan on Saturday (September 12, 2026). 

Speaking at the Singapore launch of his latest book, “Chanakya and Sun Tzu – A Business Lens on Trade, Thought and Travel”, Mr. Gopalakrishnan said, “The Indian and Chinese Governments should let their businesses work together by drawing frameworks of operational boundaries. The Governments should set the Lakshman Rekah, (outline or framework) and list what cannot be done,” the author said.

His book draws from India and China’s long-standing traditions as trading civilisations and explores how commerce, travel and the exchange of ideas have connected people, culture and nations across centuries.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Le Minh Hung on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. 

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual importance and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“Prime Minister Modi welcomed Vietnam’s participation in the BRICS Summit as a Partner Country,” the statement added. 

“The meeting provided an opportunity for both leaders to review the progress made in bilateral ties, which were elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the State Visit of H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to India in May 2026,” it said. 

The statement affirmed the “time-tested friendship” that India and Vietnam share, which it added was rooted in shared civilizational heritage, mutual trust, and understanding. 

“Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and an important partner in India’s broader engagement with Southeast Asia,” the statement said.

-T.C.S. Sharad Raghavan

Forging a joint statement at a major multilateral conference, in the midst of global conflicts where members are involved is never easy — for India, hosting the BRICS Summit in Delhi is the second time in recent years, since the G-20 Summit in 2023, that it has had to shoulder such a responsibility. That, however, is not the only reason India’s BRICS presidency comes at a difficult time.

Read more

China Southern Airlines today announced that it will resume regular passenger services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route from September 21, restarting the service after a six-year suspension.

With the resumption, the airline will operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia, the carrier said.

Read more:

China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12, 2026), to take part in the 18th BRICS Summit.

This is Mr. Jinping’s first visit to Delhi since 2014. However, this will be the third year in a row that the two leaders are meeting each other, having previously held meetings in Kazan and Tianjin.

Read more:

During their bilateral meeting today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar bin Ibrahim reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism, and people-to-people ties, the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

“Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim conveyed Malaysia’s concurrence to the establishment of the Consulate General of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,” the statement added. 

The two leaders also took stock of the outcomes of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Malaysia in February 2026.

“Prime Minister Modi appreciated Malaysia’s continued support in strengthening ASEAN-India relations,” the statement said. “The leaders exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest. They expressed their continued commitment to advancing the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

-T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan

Leaders of the BRICS nations were meeting in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12, 2026) for a summit focused on trade, investment and global conflicts, as the bloc seeks a bigger role in shaping the global agenda for emerging and developing countries.

Read more:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali held discussions aimed at further strengthening the bilateral Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said today following the conclusion of the bilateral meeting between the two leaders. 

“They reviewed progress across key sectors, including economic cooperation, defence and security partnership, and capacity building. The meeting built on Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to Addis Ababa in December 2025,” the statement added.

It further said that the two leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and international developments of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation in multilateral fora.

“Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for Ethiopia’s participation in the 18th BRICS Summit and noted that its presence helped in reinforcing the collective voice of the Global South,” the statement said.

T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan

One notable feature at the BRICS Media Centre at Bharat Mandapam is the food arrangement for the media.

For both national and international media covering the BRICS Summit, only vegetarian food is being served for lunch.

This is similar to the arrangements during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, when vegetarian meals were served.

However, the Business Forum served meat.

-Saurabh Trivedi

A bilateral meeting between India and Ethiopia has been going on at Hyderabad House.

- Kallol Bhattacherjee

Traffic movement across several key stretches in the national capital will remain regulated on Saturday (September 12, 2026) as Delhi hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, with commuters likely to face diversions and restrictions in central Delhi and adjoining areas, police said.

The restrictions will be in force from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., particularly around Bharat Mandapam and the Pragati Maidan area, as well as on major corridors connecting central Delhi with other parts of the city, according to the Delhi Police.

Several important roads, including Ring Road, Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg, Tilak Marg, the India Gate and C-Hexagon area, Sardar Patel Marg, Patel Road, NH-48 and Parade Road, will see regulated movement at different points during the day.

Police have advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance and use metro services wherever possible to avoid delays caused by traffic restrictions and VIP movements linked to the summit.

- PTI

Behind the red carpets, motorcades and ceremonial welcomes for BRICS leaders is a tightly coordinated aviation operation involving around 35 special aircraft, multiple airports, controlled airspace and carefully timed movements to accommodate foreign dignitaries without disrupting Delhi’s regular commercial flights.

The operation spans the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Indian Air Force’s Palam technical area and other airports being used to park visiting aircraft. The CISF, Air Force, aviation authorities, airport operator and other security agencies are coordinating the movements.

Click here to read more on this...

Visuals from inside the BRICS summit venue show elaborate security arrangements

The Delhi Police have stepped up monitoring of social media platforms ahead of the BRICS Summit, with specialised units tracking public posts for possible security threats, misinformation and activity that could have implications for law and order.

Speaking to The Hindu, Additional Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO), Sanjay Bhatia said the police were “keeping a close watch on social media” and had put systems in place to prevent potential “cyber mishaps” during the summit.

Click below to read more on this:

Chinese President Xi Jinping left for New Delhi on Saturday morning to attend the 18th BRICS Summit.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit.

Mr. Xi left Beijing to attend the BRICS Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

His entourage includes close associate Cai Qi, who is a member of the high-powered Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Foreign Minister and member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the news report said.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (September 11, 2026) met with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of the BRICS Summit and called for resolving the ongoing conflict with the United States “through dialogue and diplomacy”. Speaking at a public event later in the evening, President Pezeshkian said his talks with Mr. Modi will help Iran’s energy and commercial ties with India and referred to Israel and the U.S. as “bullies” and said, “Iran will not be bullied.”

Click here to read more on this...

As New Delhi prepared to host the BRICS Summit of 11 emerging economies, negotiators were working late into the evening on Friday (September 11, 2026) to forge a consensus for the “Delhi Declaration”.

Diplomatic sources and officials said that all member countries had agreed to “almost all the text, with the exception of one paragraph”, indicating that the references to the war in Iran started by the U.S. and Israel, and Iran’s attacks on installations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other West Asian countries, had still not been resolved.

Click below to read more on this: