Xi, Modi BRICS meet off with China President set to miss event

Xi will be reportedly be represented by Premier Li Qiang

By Simone Iglesias

Brazil was told by the Chinese government that President Xi Jinping will miss the summit of BRICS leaders that will take place in Rio de Janeiro next month, according to a government official familiar with the matter.

Xi will be represented by Premier Li Qiang, the Brazilian official said, requesting anonymity because the information isn’t public.

Although China didn’t provide a reason for Xi’s absence, Brazil doesn’t see this as a reason for concern, according to a second government official. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already spent a good amount of time with Xi last year — during the G-20 meeting in Rio, which was followed by Xi’s state visit to Brasilia — and again this year when Lula retributed the state visit in Beijing.