Xi Jinping Skips Modi's BRICS Dinner in New Delhi Due to Fatigue
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 18th BRICS summit and a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 12, 2026. However, he was absent from the subsequent gala dinner hosted by Modi due to fatigue caused by time zone differences.
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the diplomatic spotlight turned to the Indian capital as New Delhi hosted the milestone 18th BRICS summit. The high-profile international gathering brought together major global players, including leaders from the expanded economic bloc which now comprises eleven member states alongside ten designated partner countries. Against the backdrop of intense geopolitical engagement, the summit served as a critical platform for dialogue among some of the world's most influential emerging economies and their respective heads of state.
Among the prominent figures attending the Saturday sessions in New Delhi was Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the course of the day's diplomatic engagements, the Chinese leader actively participated in the official summit proceedings. Furthermore, President Xi engaged in a dedicated bilateral meeting with the host of the event, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussing various diplomatic and economic matters between the two neighboring Asian powers.
Despite his active participation in the daytime agenda of the 18th BRICS summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping was notably absent from the grand gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later that evening. According to verified details surrounding the event, the Chinese leader chose to skip the official banquet because he was feeling tired and exhausted, a condition directly attributed to the physiological impact of time zone differences.
While the Chinese president rested, the high-level social event proceeded as scheduled in the Indian capital. Other prominent international figures, most notably Russian President Vladimir Putin, joined the gathering alongside various other leaders from across the BRICS alliance. The dinner served as a networking opportunity for the attending dignitaries representing the eleven member states and ten partner countries gathered in New Delhi.
The absence of President Xi Jinping from the Prime Minister's dinner became a notable footnote to the 18th BRICS summit, which otherwise successfully concluded its scheduled diplomatic events on September 12, 2026. As the international delegations prepared to conclude their stay in New Delhi, the focus remained on the official outcomes of the bilateral talks and multilateral sessions held throughout the busy Saturday summit.
