A summit of leaders from the BRICS group of major emerging economies kicks off in Brazil Sunday – but without the top leader of its most powerful member.

Xi Jinping skips BRICS Summit for the first time amid speculation of political turbulence in China and divisions between member nations over trade and strategic interests

The 17th BRICS Summit kicked off on Sunday in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, bringing together leaders from major emerging economies--but without the attendance of one of the top leaders of one of its most powerful members.

China’s vast clean-energy industry has spearheaded a BRICS solar-power boom, with the bloc accounting for more than half of global generation last year, according to a new report.

At their latest summit in Brazil, the BRICS nations once again portrayed themselves as an emerging geopolitical heavyweight. Yet the internal contradictions within this expanding group remain plain to see.

Beijing vows to retaliate against those helping Washington cut the country out of supply chains. Yet wielding a stick at its Asian partners has backfired in the past, and the carrots it can offer may be limited by concerns about tech transfer and financing overseas investments.

The BRICS expansion is also likely to fuel competition – and potential friction – between China and India, whose ties have already been strained by a simmering border conflict.

Both Jakarta and Hanoi seek to preserve strategic autonomy while navigating an increasingly polarized international environment. BRICS may offer a third path.