Xi Jinping Skipped BRICS Leaders’ Dinner in India Due to Illness, Fuelling Health Speculation Ahead of US Visit

China’s Xi Jinping skipped a dinner of world leaders in India earlier this month because he was unwell, said people familiar with the matter, fueling speculation about his health days before a planned visit to the US The people said Xi withdrew at the last minute from the gala held last Saturday in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, a gathering of emerging-market nations. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended in his place, mingling with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders.

What Happened At The BRICS Dinner in India

Xi’s absence from the dinner was initially unexplained. Indian media reported at the time that he had returned to his hotel to rest after attending the BRICS summit and holding a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other BRICS leaders attended the dinner. Did World Leaders Fall Ill After BRICS Summit 2026 in India? MEA Fact Check Calls the Viral Claim Fake.

The Wall Street Journal later reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Xi had been unwell and had withdrawn from the event at the last minute. The report adds a new explanation to an absence that had already attracted attention because Xi was attending the summit during his first visit to India in seven years.

Official Statements And Unverified Claims

The circumstances have also generated claims on social media about Xi’s health. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has rejected posts claiming that Xi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa fell ill after attending the BRICS summit, describing such reports as fake and misleading. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa Taken Ill After BRICS Summit 2026 in India.

That clarification does not establish a diagnosis for Xi. The WSJ report says people familiar with the matter described him as unwell, while Indian reporting at the time said the reason for his absence had not been officially confirmed. There has been no verified public evidence establishing a serious medical condition.

Xi Jinping’s Planned US Visit

The episode comes shortly before Xi’s planned visit to the United States for talks with President Donald Trump. Reuters reported on September 18 that Trump is expected to personally greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews when the Chinese leader arrives next week. The planned visit is expected to include discussions on trade, rare-earth supplies and artificial intelligence.

The timing has added attention to Xi’s health, although his dinner absence in New Delhi by itself does not establish whether there is any broader health issue. Reuters also reported that senior officials from the United States and China are holding preparatory talks on trade, AI security and critical minerals ahead of the leaders’ meeting. BRICS Summit Context

Xi arrived in New Delhi on September 12 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit at Modi’s invitation. China’s Foreign Ministry said Xi was welcomed by senior Indian officials and proceeded to the summit venue after arriving by special plane.

During the summit, Xi also met Modi for bilateral discussions, marking their first interaction on Indian soil in seven years. Xi left India before lunch on September 13, according to Indian reporting.

For now, the publicly established facts are limited: Xi attended the BRICS summit and met Modi, skipped the gala dinner, and was represented there by Wang Yi. The WSJ has reported that people familiar with the matter attributed the absence to Xi feeling unwell, while Indian authorities have pushed back against broader unverified claims about illness circulating online.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2026 03:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).