Xi Jinping Skips Key BRICS Event, No Reason Cited For Missing Speech

China's leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday skipped a scheduled speech at the crucial multilateral business form in South Africa. No reason has been cited yet for missing the speech, according to report. However, the leader later attended the summit dinner as reports suggest that it was likely to be a last-minute decision.

Earlier, Xi Jinping arrived in Johannesburg on August 21 for the yearly BRICS summit of leading emerging economies and he was supposed to deliver a speech at the business forum on Tuesday alongside leaders from South Africa, Brazil, and India. Xi Jinping was received on the airport tarmac by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

As per reports, Xi Jinping's scheduled speech was instead read out by his commerce minister, Wang Wentao.

The official news agency of People's Republic of China, Xinhua News Agency shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, where Xi Jinping is seen with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. The post read, "Xi calls on China, S. Africa to strengthen four partnerships in golden era. While meeting with Ramaphosa, the Chinese leader called on both sides to be strategic partners of high-level mutual trust."

Here is the post: