Middle East war does not serve ‘common interests’: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the BRICS summit on Saturday that the Middle East war does not serve “common interests”, according to Chinese state media.

Xi arrived in New Delhi, India, today to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, which is being held against the backdrop of two major conflicts – the Iran-US war and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Chinese leader also urged BRICS member nations to strengthen cooperation on artificial intelligence and called on the bloc to oppose violations of other countries’ sovereignty and interference in their internal affairs, Reuters reported.

Speaking on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Xi was expected to discuss major international issues and explore ways to deepen cooperation among BRICS members, according to the Associated Press.

The summit is focused on trade, investment, and global conflicts, as the bloc seeks a larger role in shaping the global agenda for emerging and developing nations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and leaders from the other eight BRICS member countries.

The gathering comes at a critical time as the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, alongside rising US-China tensions, test the bloc’s ability to find common ground among nations with competing geopolitical interests.