India hosts first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas in New Delhi

The first BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas meeting of 2026 was held in New Delhi, where participants discussed key events for the year and officially launched preparations for the 18th BRICS Summit. Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs of India and India’s BRICS Sherpa Sudhakar Dalela drew participants’ attention to the priorities of India’s chairmanship of the group, as reported by ANI, a TV BRICS partner.

As noted by the Indian Sherpa, India approached its chairmanship guided by the principles of humanism and a people-centric focus, choosing the main theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

In turn, Vice Foreign Minister and Coordinator of China's BRICS Affairs Ma Zhaoxu stated that President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping had proposed the important concept of high-quality development of broader BRICS cooperation in the fields of innovation and green technologies, emphasising the importance of closer people-to-people exchanges and the pursuit of peace and justice. His remarks were conveyed by the press service of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China expressed its readiness to work with India, the chair country, as well as with other BRICS members and partners to deepen practical cooperation, optimise working mechanisms, strengthen multilateral coordination and uphold international justice.

Belarus, a BRICS partner country, took part for the first time in the BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas meeting. Ambassador of Belarus to India Mikhail Kasko, in his address, thanked the organisers for the invitation, noting that partner countries had not previously participated in such meetings, according to the website of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kasko conveyed a message from President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko, who expressed confidence that India’s year of chairmanship would bring new achievements and strengthen BRICS’ position as an influential international structure. The Belarusian side, in turn, offered to share its own technological potential and achievements in the fields of food and water security for the harmonious development of BRICS countries and also confirmed its interest in joining the BRICS New Development Bank, which would facilitate the realisation of the economic potential of all member states and partners of the group.

In 2026, India, one of the founding countries of the group, is leading the expanded BRICS format for the first time, which now includes 10 countries. Previously, it chaired the group in 2012, 2016 and 2021.