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 and Vladimir Putin were both missing from the BRICS summit that kicked off Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. According to Bloomberg, neither leader showed up,

For the first time since taking power, Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping the BRICS Summit, sending Premier Li Qiang to Rio de Janeiro in his place. Xi’s absence raises questions amid global trade turmoil and U.