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BRICS leaders wrap up summit in New Delhi with Middle East statement

AFP
By AFP
September 13, 2026 02:18 PM GMT+03:00

Leaders of BRICS nations, including China, Russia and India,  concluded a second and final day of talks in New Delhi on Sunday, discussing "inclusive global growth", after reaching a rare agreement calling for calm in the Middle East.

AFP
By AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for "cooperation" within the bloc, which he has said represents "50% of the world's population, 40% of global GDP, and more than 25% of global trade".

AFP
By AFP

"The power of BRICS lies in our diversity and cooperation," Modi told leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the final day of talks.

AFP
By AFP

Saturday's opening day of the summit was dominated by the conflict in the Middle East. Leaders, who also included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, issued a statement after intense diplomatic efforts by host India. 

"We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia," the joint statement said, adding that the BRICS countries "call for exercising maximum restraint".

AFP
By AFP

Xi's presence at the summit carried added weight, as it marked his first visit to neighbouring India since 2019, and the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the nuclear-armed rivals. 

His visit came 6 years after a deadly military clash along the disputed Tibetan border between China and India, with ties gradually improving through restored flights, visas and high-level contacts.

AFP
By AFP

"Although our two countries are different in many respects, they are fully capable of complementing each other's strengths, supporting one another, achieving mutual success and advancing together," Xi said as he met Modi, according to a video released by New Delhi.

AFP
By AFP

The underlying territorial dispute remains unresolved, and both sides retain heavy military deployments along their roughly 3,500-kilometer (2,175-mile) high-altitude border.

AFP
By AFP

Putin said in a speech to the 11-nation BRICS group before he left that the bloc was working to create a "new, more just, multipolar world order." Moscow remains one of New Delhi's most important strategic partners.

Telegram/@irannewspaper
By Telegram/@irannewspaper

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed met in New Delhi on Saturday, the Iranian embassy in India said, as the countries remain at odds over the Middle East war.