Russian President Vladimir Putin, charged with war crimes in Ukraine, is also opting to stay away, but participated via video link.
He told counterparts that the influence of BRICS “continues to grow” and said the bloc had become a key player in global governance.
Still, Xi’s no-show is a blow to BRICS and to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage.
War and peace
On Sunday he welcomed leaders to Rio’s stunning Guanabara Bay, telling them that multilateralism was under attack, while hitting out at NATO and Israel, among others.
He accused the trans-Atlantic defense organization of fueling an international arms race through a pledge by members to spend five percent of GDP on defense.
“It is always easier to invest in war than in peace,” he said, while accusing Israel of carrying out “genocide” in Gaza.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel, is also skipping the meeting, but he was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
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