Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India on September 12 and 13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether he would travel to the country. The visit, confirmed by China, will be Xi’s first trip to India in seven years and comes at a significant moment in India-China relations.
Xi is travelling to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His presence at the BRICS summit is expected to put India-China relations firmly in focus as leaders of major emerging economies gather to discuss global economic and geopolitical issues.
Xi’s First India Visit In Seven Years
Xi’s upcoming visit will be his first to India since 2019, when he travelled to Mahabalipuram for an informal summit with Modi. Relations between the two countries subsequently deteriorated following the deadly 2020 border clashes in eastern Ladakh.
The latest visit therefore carries considerable diplomatic significance. India and China have taken several steps over the past year to stabilise ties, including efforts to ease military tensions along their disputed Himalayan border. Modi and Xi have also met on the sidelines of international and regional forums.
Modi-Xi Meeting Likely To Draw Attention
One of the biggest points of interest during the BRICS summit will be a possible bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi.
A meeting between the two leaders could provide an opportunity to discuss the progress made in stabilising the border situation, improving diplomatic engagement and expanding economic cooperation. Reuters reported that such talks could also help address some of the barriers affecting business ties between the two countries.
However, despite the diplomatic thaw, significant challenges remain. Mutual distrust continues to influence investment, technology cooperation and other areas of economic engagement.
Economic Ties Remain A Major Issue
India and China maintain substantial trade ties, but businesses on both sides continue to face regulatory and strategic hurdles.
India has recently eased some restrictions on Chinese investment in areas including electronics, capital goods and solar cells. At the same time, Chinese companies continue to face scrutiny in sensitive sectors in India. Several proposed investments by major Chinese companies have also remained uncertain.
The upcoming Modi-Xi engagement could therefore be important not only from a diplomatic perspective but also for the future direction of bilateral economic relations.
BRICS Summit Comes At A Critical Time
The 18th BRICS Summit will be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with India hosting the expanded grouping at a time of heightened global tensions. Leaders from several BRICS countries are expected to attend, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran and the disruption of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz are also expected to feature prominently in discussions. Differences among BRICS members over the Middle East conflict could make the summit’s joint declaration particularly challenging.
A Significant Moment For India-China Relations
Xi’s decision to travel to India signals the importance Beijing attaches to the BRICS platform and its relationship with New Delhi. For India, the visit provides an opportunity to engage directly with China’s leadership while maintaining its strategic priorities and security concerns.
While the visit is unlikely to resolve all outstanding differences between the two countries, it could strengthen the recent diplomatic thaw and create space for further dialogue.
With Xi set to arrive in New Delhi this weekend, all eyes will now be on his meeting with Modi and whether the BRICS summit can become another step towards a more stable India-China relationship.
