China Backs India's BRICS Role Ahead of 2026 Chairmanship

• China recognizes BRICS needs India's active participation and leadership, says former diplomat Vidya Bhushan Soni.
• India-China Strategic Dialogue saw agreement to support each other's BRICS chair roles in 2026 and 2027.
• India will steer BRICS deliberations in 2026, making early coordination essential amid global changes.
• India remains committed to multilateral diplomacy, viewing BRICS as central to its global engagement.
• Both nations agreed to view each other as cooperative partners, not rivals, and support multilateralism and a multipolar world.