BRICS Must Play Peacemaker in West Asia, Says Xi as Bloc Adopts Delhi Declaration
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday urged BRICS to take on a peacemaking role in West Asia, placing the conflict at the centre of his address as the grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration by consensus.
China would work with fellow members towards that goal, Xi said, arguing that the war “does not serve the common interests of the international community”, according to Reuters, which cited Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Xi described the bloc as a “leading group” in the Global South and a model of self-reliance among emerging and developing economies. He also called for development driven by innovation.
His appeal for a stronger diplomatic role came as BRICS members endorsed a declaration emphasising conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
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Delhi Declaration Backs Dialogue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the declaration’s unanimous adoption at Bharat Mandapam, where India is hosting the summit.
“No member has raised any objection. The New Delhi Declaration 2026 is adopted unanimously,” Modi said.
According to Reuters, the declaration stressed the importance of preventing conflicts, including by addressing their root causes. It reaffirmed the grouping’s commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy, while supporting a multilateral approach that respects differing national positions.
Economic friction also featured prominently. The joint statement expressed serious concern over the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules.
Earlier, Modi greeted Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin together, holding their hands and exchanging smiles in visuals shared on social media as the summit got underway.
China Sets Out Its 2027 Priorities
China will assume the rotating BRICS presidency in 2027, with Beijing signalling an agenda spanning closer development cooperation, technology and green growth.
According to Chinese media reports, China intends to strengthen multilateral cooperation and align members’ development strategies through cooperation platforms. Its plans draw on Beijing’s Global Development, Global Security, Global Civilisation and Global Governance initiatives.
The proposed priorities include outcomes in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, green development, poverty reduction and agriculture.
For the current summit, Xi’s central appeal was for BRICS to bring its collective influence to bear on the West Asia conflict. The Delhi Declaration’s emphasis on dialogue and conflict prevention provides the broader diplomatic framework for that ambition.
With inputs from ANI