Chinese President Xi Jinping urged BRICS nations to act as peacemakers in the Middle East conflict and emphasized AI collaboration during the 2026 summit in New Delhi, where he also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chinese President Xi Jinping framed the BRICS bloc as a critical force for peace in the Middle East during the 2026 summit in New Delhi, stating the conflict does not serve the common interests of the international community.
His remarks, reported by Reuters, highlighted the group’s role as a counterweight to Western dominance, with members representing over 40% of the world’s population and a significant portion of global trade. The speech came as Xi sought to strengthen ties with India, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Xi’s Peace Initiative and the BRICS Role in the Middle East
Xi’s address to BRICS leaders included a direct appeal for the group to mediate in the Middle East crisis, a region where tensions have escalated amid ongoing conflicts. The Chinese leader described BRICS as a leading group in the Global South,
emphasizing its potential to drive innovation-driven development among emerging economies. This call for peacemaking aligns with China’s broader diplomatic strategy of positioning itself as a mediator in global disputes, a role it has increasingly taken on since the 2009 founding of the bloc.
The BRICS summit, attended by leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, underscored the group’s expansion beyond its original five members. The bloc now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters.
AI Collaboration as a BRICS Priority
Separately, Xi outlined a vision for AI-driven cooperation among BRICS nations, a focus detailed in a CNBC report. The Chinese leader proposed establishing a BRICS AI open-source community
to foster collaboration on large language models and digital ecosystems. This initiative aims to create an open AI ecosystem,
with plans to conduct training programs and industrial alignment efforts, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement cited by CNBC.
Xi’s proposals come amid rapid advancements in AI technology, with companies releasing increasingly powerful models. While the Chinese leader did not address concerns about AI safety, his emphasis on collaboration reflects a strategic effort to position BRICS as a hub for technological innovation. The plan includes a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance
and youth exchange programs, signaling a long-term commitment to building digital infrastructure across member states.
Diplomatic Overtones and Regional Tensions
Xi’s meeting with Modi during the summit highlighted the complex dynamics between China and India. While the leaders discussed shared development,
analysts noted that business ties between the two nations remain strained. The countries have a history of border clashes, including a 1962 war and a 2020 skirmish that killed 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. Despite recent diplomatic efforts, including Modi’s visit to China last year, trade and investment relations have yet to fully recover.
What Comes Next for BRICS?
As China prepares to assume the BRICS chairmanship next year, the group’s future direction hinges on its ability to balance competing priorities. While Xi’s emphasis on AI and peacekeeping reflects a vision for the bloc’s global influence, the practical challenges of uniting 11 nations with distinct economic and political agendas remain. The upcoming 19th BRICS summit, to be hosted by China, will be a key test of whether these ambitions can translate into actionable outcomes.
For now, the summit has solidified BRICS’ role as a significant player in global affairs, even as its members grapple with internal divisions and external pressures. The next phase will reveal whether the bloc can move beyond rhetoric and deliver on its promises of cooperation and innovation.
