Xi and Putin to Take Part in BRICS Trade Summit Without Modi

China has confirmed that President Xi Jinping will take part in a virtual BRICS summit convened by Brazil to discuss Donald Trump’s trade policy. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will skip the meeting but will send a senior representative instead.

“President Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS Leaders’ online summit in Beijing on Sept. 8 and deliver an important speech,” according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry.