China benefited most from BRICS summit: Sibal

New Delhi – Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal told reporters on Monday that China gained the most from the BRICS summit hosted by India, calling the bloc a “motley” collection of countries that struggles to reach definitive outcomes. Sibal, who chaired a press conference after the meeting, said the summit’s joint resolution was a notable achievement for the Indian government despite his view that the grouping cannot become a non‑Western alliance.

The summit, which concluded on Sunday in New Delhi, brought together the eleven BRICS members – a coalition that accounts for roughly 49.5% of the world’s population and 40% of global GDP. The final declaration avoided references to an alternative currency or de‑dollarisation, and it touched on issues such as logistics, supply‑chain resilience, startups and infectious‑disease control. Sibal noted that the resolution also mentioned the war in Ukraine, the situation in Iran, and the Palestine question, reflecting broader geopolitical concerns.

Sibal’s comments come as India assumes the chairmanship of BRICS for the current term, positioning the country at the centre of discussions on global governance and trade architecture. While he praised the lack of controversy surrounding the joint statement, he cautioned that many summit outcomes may remain on paper unless implemented on the ground. His remarks underscore the delicate balance India seeks to maintain between major powers like China and Russia and its own strategic interests.