Xi Jinping will visit India for the BRICS Summit, his first trip in nearly seven years, as New Delhi and Beijing work to stabilise ties, reports Asian Lite News Desk
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, marking his first trip to India in nearly seven years as the two countries seek to stabilise ties following years of border tensions.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced the visit on Thursday, saying Xi would attend the summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The announcement came hours after Chinese officials had declined to confirm whether the president would travel to India for the meeting.
Xi’s visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the Chinese and Indian leaders to hold detailed discussions on bilateral relations on the sidelines of the BRICS gathering.
The two countries have been working to improve ties since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clashes along the disputed India-China border. New Delhi has repeatedly stressed that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for the broader development of bilateral relations.
The visit also comes after a series of diplomatic and military-level engagements between the two sides. India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the 25th round of Special Representatives talks on the boundary question in Beijing on August 25.
The discussions covered the border dispute as well as wider bilateral relations. The two sides noted progress in implementing understandings reached by Modi and Xi in Kazan in October 2024 and Tianjin in August 2025.
They also welcomed the gradual resumption of people-to-people and cross-border exchanges, including the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and border trade through designated passes.
Earlier this month, senior military commanders from India and China also held their first flag meeting at commander level in the latest phase of efforts to maintain communication along the Line of Actual Control. The meetings were held at Vacha in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6 and Damai on the Chinese side on September 7.
China has publicly described the improvement in bilateral relations as a positive development. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong recently said the two countries had strengthened dialogue and cooperation and that direct flights and border trade had resumed.
The BRICS summit will also take place as India seeks to strengthen cooperation among the expanded grouping and promote the interests of the Global South. India holds the BRICS chair this year, while China is scheduled to assume the rotating chair next year. Chinese officials have said Beijing supports India in hosting a successful summit and wants to deepen practical cooperation among BRICS members.
For New Delhi and Beijing, Xi’s presence gives the summit added diplomatic importance. Beyond the BRICS agenda, the meeting could offer both sides an opportunity to consolidate the recent improvement in relations while addressing unresolved issues along the disputed border.
The summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
