Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a miss to the high-profile gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi on September 12, 2026, amidst BRICS Summit. He was in India after seven-years.
As per official sources, Xi returned to his hotel to rest, reportedly feeling “tired and exhausted due to the time difference” after a packed schedule of summit sessions and a 45-minute bilateral meeting with PM Modi earlier that day.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed also missed the dinner, having departed for the UAE earlier in the day.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other BRICS leaders attended the banquet at Bharat Mandapam, alongside top Indian officials like Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, and several state chief ministers.
Despite giving the evening social event a miss, Xi’s trip marked his first visit to India in seven years to participate directly in the core geopolitical negotiations.
News Edit KV Raman
