BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE: Modi and Xi Jinping Bilateral Talks Conclude; PM Modi Calls for Maintaining Peace at Border

Delhi is witnessing heightened security as the 18th BRICS Summit is set to commence at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, September 12, 2026. More than 15,000 Delhi Police officials, 200 paramilitary personnel, and over 500 CCTV cameras have been deployed across the national capital ahead of the political summit.

Although there will be no shutdown across the city, commuters may face temporary stoppages, route diversions, and restrictions along roads used by VVIP convoys. Over 35 roads, including Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath and Shanti Path, are expected to be affected.

Metro services, buses, autos and cabs will continue to operate as usual, but movement and access may be regulated in certain restricted zones. Police have advised commuters to plan their journeys beforehand and follow only official updates, while dismissing false social media claims about a complete 'Delhi bandh.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India early Friday morning on September 11, 2026. He was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs K V Singh. 

Putin’s three-day visit to India will include his participation in the BRICS Summit 2026 and conducting a series of bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon. The two leaders are expected to indulge in dialogues relating to trade, investment, defense, energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, and people-to-people ties.

The BRICS Summit 2026 is a two-day political affair scheduled for September 12-13, 2026. Ahead of the event, world leaders and other dignitaries are starting to arrive in the national capital territory of Delhi. With the theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” the BRICS Summit 2026 will be held at Bharat Mandapam. Here’s a brief overview of what will happen during the two days:

Day 1: Saturday, September 12, 2026

2 pm: Arrival of BRICS leaders

2.35 pm: Closed session on multilateralism

4.25 pm: Bharat Innovates Exhibition

5.05 pm: BRICS Family photo

5.10 pm: Joint tree plantation

7.30 pm: Gala dinner hosted by BRICS Chairman Prime Minister Modi

Day 2: Sunday, September 13, 2026

9.55 am: Arrival of partner country and outreach leaders

10.35 am: BRICS Family photo

10.50 am: Open session on inclusive global growth

In a X statement posted on Friday, September 11, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the upcoming BRICS Summit would witness constructive and meaningful discussions aimed at advancing the state of the world.

Ahead of the summit, Modi said that one should build associations and work together with virtuous people, while keeping away from those who follow an unrighteous path.

“In the coming days, leaders from around the world will gather for the BRICS Summit. I am fully confident that the summit will feature positive and meaningful discussions on various issues, with aspirations for the welfare of the world," the Prime Minister stated.

He further said, “One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous.”

Delhi Metro services will start at 6 am on Sunday, September 13, 2026, across all corridors, one hour earlier than the usual schedule on some lines. This decision was taken to help students in appearing for examinations and other commuters amid traffic restrictions during the BRICS Summit 2026.

In an X statement, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said services on the Pink, Magenta, and Grey lines, which generally begin at 7 am on Sundays, will also start at 6 am this week.

The main objective of the BRICS summit is to increase economic cooperation, boost trade, and give developing nations a stronger voice in global governance. As part of its proceedings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu engage in bilateral talks with different world leaders to foster economic and diplomatic ties. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has given the itinerary of the PM and President’s bilateral meetings with dignitaries.

BRICS Business Forum — the summit’s main private sector platform — kicked off its proceedings with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Trade Minister Piyush Goyal in attendance. At the forum’s opening ceremony, BRICS Business Council Chair and UPL Chairman Jai Shroff stated that the grouping’s biggest opportunity lies in interlinking the capabilities of the countries that comprise BRICS.

“India’s BRICS Chairmanship under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been built around four priorities: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. These are important priorities for the government, but they are equally relevant for business,” Shroff remarked.

Speaking at the BRICS Economic Forum, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar highlighted India’s prowess in innovation and entrepreneurship. He remarked that the most useful contribution of this forum would be “to bring a clear business perspective to the next phase of BRICS.”

Highlighting upon the need of “self-relianacy,” he remarked that this objective aims to strengthen the ability to absorb shocks while remaining connected and competitive. 

“The common thread is how to make it easier for businesses in our countries to find more partners, access more markets, connect supply networks and convert complementarities into viable commercial partnerships. For BRICS particularly, higher economic activity and higher economic security mean greater self-reliance. The objective is to strengthen our ability to absorb shocks while remaining connected and competitive,” Dr Jaishankar said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres have landed in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS Summit 2026.

President Pezeshkian is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day. The official had earlier met PM Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Iranian President had remarked upon the long-standing relationship between Iran and India, and expressed hope towards expanding areas of common interest.

The bilateral meeting between the Russian President and Indian Prime Minister began in the afternoon of September 11, 2026. PM Narendra Modi presented the Russian translation of Thirukkural to President Putin. Thirukkural is a classic Tamil-language text consisting of 1,330 kurals (sacred verses), which are short, two line couplets on ethics and morality.

Both the world leaders shared a hug and handshake for photo ops before commencing their meeting at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.

While speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the importance of BRICS nations over G7 countries. He said, "More than 40% of global GDP has been produced by BRICS countries while the so-called G7 countries have contributed only 29% over the last five years."

He continued to take shots at the Western powers, saying that the global competition is taking an ugly form. He indirectly referred to the United States' threats of imposing 100% tariffs on countries who will buy Russian oil. He said, "We are told competition is sacrosanct and not to be touched by our Western competitors who are doing everything to get their competitive edge back. But this competition is taking ugly forms. There are threats of so-called secondary sanctions against those who do not want to follow someone else's interest but rather want to follow their own."

While addressing the BRICS Business Forum on Friday, September 11, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the concerns regarding disruption of sea routes. He said, "Global trade can only grow when sea lanes are secure, supply routes are open and seafarers are safe.

He further highlights the participation of women entrepreneurs as part of the BRICS Business Forum. He continued, "BRICS Women's Wing and Business Alliances are important part of our vision. We want women entrepreneurs to lead our growth story. We are proud to announce that the alliance meeting hosted by India witnessed participation from nearly 200 women business leaders."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, September 12, 2026, underscored the importance of a multipolar world order, and the need to reform the multilateral institutions of the UN including the UN Security Council (UNSC). This comes as a crucial milestone, as India and several other countries of the global majority had been pressing for a reorganization of the UNSC membership, which has largely remained unchanged ever since.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed in its statement of Mr. Guterres congratulating PM Modi for India's fourth chairship of the BRICS Summit.

According to the statement issued by MEA, both leaders engaged on a wide range of issues including the ongoing conflicts and tensions in the world, need for sustainable development, human-centric artificial intelligence, global food security and renewable energy.

"They also held discussions on various issues, including ongoing conflicts and freedom of navigation, sustainable development, human-centric AI, progress in renewable energy and global food security," reported news agency ANI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for a bilateral discussion at 5.45 pm today on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

This meeting comes as India and China continue working towards improving their bilateral relations after a prolonged period of tensions.

On Saturday morning, September 12, 2026, Xi Jinping left Beijing to attend the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi. As per Chinese media outlet Xinhua, Xi’s entourage includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister.  

With the BRICS 2026 Summit bringing India and China closer in terms of diplomatic engagement, economic linkages are beginning to take shape optimistically.

Ahead of the BRICS sessions, China Southern Airlines, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, announced its resumption of regular passenger services between Guangzhou and New Delhi, starting September 21, 2026, after a suspension of nearly six years.

Belarus Foreign Minister Ryzhenkov arrives in New Delhi on Saturday, September 10, 2026 ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit 2026. 

Belarus is one of the BRICS partner nations, and has been a significant contributor to the food and supplies market around the globe. 

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed Ryzhenkov, and expressed his greetings to X. “Warmly welcome Mr Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India and Belarus share warm and friendly relations, marked by growing cooperation across a broad range of areas, in bilateral and multilateral spheres,” the post on X read. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit. 

The Ethiopian PM was received by Sanjay Seth—Minister of State for Defence—and also the armed forces personnel. Alongside the PM, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Gedion Timothewos, is also representing the country in the 18th BRICS Summit. 

The bilateral meeting between the two countries forms an important landmark in the political and diplomatic considerations of the people of the global majority. This integration has helped Ethiopia to expand its global export market, particularly for items such as coffee, flowers and other agricultural products. Additionally, India and China have also showcased their longstanding interest in investing in Ethiopia’s telecommunication technology and infrastructure. 

BRICS initially began as a collective of Brazil, Russia, India, China, i.e. BRIC, in 2009, and was joined by South Africa in 2010. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE are the latest members, who became full members from January 2024. 

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Ming Huang has arrived in New Delhi to partake in the BRICS Summit 2026. Landing at the airport on Saturday, September 12, 2026, he was received by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol.

India and Vietnam have long harbored shared interests in defence and security, fintech, critical minerals and other emerging sectors, exemplified by cooperation expanding across these areas. Both the countries have closely worked together on multilateral cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12, 2028 to attend the BRICS Summit 2026. This visit marks the Chinese dignitary's first visit to India in nearly seven years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi are also expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with the Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung on Saturday September 12, 2026. The spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, posted the meeting updates on X. He disclosed that both leaders discussed about enhancing the partnership between the two countries following a visit from the President of Social Republic of Vietnam in May 2026.

Jaiswal said on X, "Both leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties, which were elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the State Visit of Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to India in May 2026.

Both leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual importance, and reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthening their partnership."

According to media sources, BRICS Countries have agreed on a joint declaration before the summit, aiming to boost the global clout of the emerging economies part of the alliance.

The Reuters reported that that summit is aiming to bridge gaps between its West Asian members, Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the Gulf conflict. The stakeholders have agreed on a joint declaration which will likely not include the name of any country. According to reports, the statement will condemn the unilateral war by any country, which will likely receive approval from bloc's leaders later today.

As the host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his address in the BRICS Summit 2026 on Saturday, September 12, 2026. He said the the countries part of the bloc are "coming of age." He continued, "[BRICS] is not against anybody, but we take everybody forward with us."

Addressing the summit on September 12, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of reforms in the United Nations to reflect the Global South's say in the new world order. He highlighted how the Global South is facing various crises but hold a little decision-making power in global policies.

PM Modi said, "Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of the decision-making process. We must transform this 'pyramid of privilege' into a 'platform of partnership' -one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every effort."

The Indian PM further asked the world leaders present in the Summit to formulate a 10-point proposal for global governance that will form the roadmap for BRICS reform by the time of next summit.

BRICS released a 140-point joint declaration from New Delhi following the 2026 summit on Saturday September 12, 2026. The press release was titled, "BRICS New Delhi Declaration: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."

The declaration emphasizes the points highlighted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the Summit, primarily calling for equitable geographical representation in the UN Secretariat and other international organizations. It maintains that developing countries facing global crises remain severely underrepresented in decision-making positions.

New Delhi declaration also calls for greater participation of women from emerging and developing countries in leadership roles. BRICS further pushed back on the notion of a single country or a group of countries having monopoly over senior posts in the United Nations. To emphasize its point, it notes that the UN has never appointed a woman as the Secretary-General, while having limited representation from Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.

As part of the BRICS New Delhi Declaration, the bloc announced that China will take over the chair from India for the 2027 summit. At the conclusion of the Delhi meet, leaders planted Banyan Trees, symbolizing future unity and growth.