China Tells Brazil Xi Jinping Will Miss BRICS Summit in Rio

President Xi Jinping will miss a meeting of BRICS leaders in Rio de Janeiro, according to a Brazilian official familiar with the matter, marking the first time the Chinese leader has skipped the summit since taking power.

China has informed Brazil that Xi will be represented at next month’s huddle by Premier Li Qiang, according to the government official, who requested anonymity as the information isn’t yet public. Li previously filled in for his boss at the Group of Twenty summit in India in 2023.