For the first time since assuming office in 2013, Chinese President and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will not attend a BRICS summit in person. Instead, Premier Li Qiang will represent the People’s Republic of China at the gathering in Rio de Janeiro. From Beijing’s perspective, the ongoing conflicts — and the direct involvement of fellow BRICS members such as Russia and Iran — have significantly dampened expectations for the summit’s success. Against this backdrop, signs are mounting that China’s enthusiasm for the BRICS format is waning, giving way to growing disillusionment and lowered ambitions.
