Modi Congratulates Xi as BRICS Chairmanship Shifts to China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally conveyed his best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping as India prepares to transfer the BRICS rotating chairmanship to China. The handover marks the conclusion of India's tenure as the coalition's presiding member and ushers in a new chapter under Beijing's leadership.

India assumed the BRICS chairmanship in January 2024, spending nearly a year steering the bloc's agenda on issues ranging from global economic governance and climate finance to expanding membership and deepening intra-BRICS trade settlements. The Indian government highlighted several key achievements during its term, including the successful integration of new members and progress toward establishing alternative payment mechanisms designed to reduce reliance on Western-dominated financial systems.

The transition comes at a diplomatically complex moment. Relations between India and China have remained strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops. Since then, multiple rounds of military and diplomatic dialogue have taken place, but a full resolution of the border dispute remains elusive.

Despite these tensions, both nations have treated multilateral forums like BRICS as spaces where engagement continues. Analysts noted that China's assumption of the chairmanship does not necessarily signal an deterioration in bilateral ties — rather, it reflects the pragmatic reality that both countries see value in keeping the BRICS platform functional and cohesive.

China, a founding member of BRICS, is expected to prioritize the group's economic cooperation agenda, with particular emphasis on expanding the use of local currencies in trade, strengthening the New Development Bank, and further integrating the economies of member states. The current BRICS membership includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

Observers are watching closely to see how China shapes the bloc's priorities in the coming year and whether it will pursue any moves that could complicate India's strategic interests, particularly around Chinese involvement in regional initiatives or the expansion of BRICS itself.