NEW DELHI — World leaders are gathering at Bharat Mandapam for the 18th BRICS Summit (September 12–13, 2026), hosted under India’s chairship. Theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Key Developments & Arrival Highlights
PM Modi–Putin Bilateral: Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi for a three-day visit—his first in-person BRICS summit outside Russia since 2022. Bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi focus on trade, energy, and defense, alongside joint participation in the Innoprom industrial exhibition.
Xi Jinping’s Historic Visit: Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to land on Saturday, marking his first trip to India in seven years. A Modi-Xi bilateral meeting is set for Saturday evening to review Line of Actual Control (LAC) dynamics and trade normalization.
Global Attendance: Leaders from Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, Egypt, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres are in attendance, alongside BRICS partner delegates from Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
Core Agenda Items
| Focus Area | Key Initiatives & Discussion Points |
| Startups & Innovation | Establishment of a proposed BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and cross-border tech connectivity. |
| Supply Chains | Adoption of the BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework. |
| Finance & Trade | Expanding trade in national currencies, local payment mechanisms, and New Development Bank operations. |
| Global Affairs | Addressing Middle East tensions, Ukraine conflicts, and global trade tariff uncertainties. |
