Beijing, Sep 2026 : Chinese President Xi Jinping departed Beijing on Saturday for New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, marking his first visit to India in nearly seven years and setting the stage for renewed high-level engagement between the two Asian powers.
Xi is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the two-day BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13. His participation is being closely watched as India and China continue efforts to stabilise their bilateral relationship following years of tensions, particularly after the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong announced Xi's departure on social media platform X and said the Chinese President would be accompanied by senior officials, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and China's foreign minister, is also part of Xi's entourage, according to Xinhua news agency.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry had formally announced Xi's participation in the BRICS Summit on Thursday.
"At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13," the ministry said in social media posts.
The visit assumes significance as New Delhi and Beijing seek to put their bilateral ties on a more stable footing. Relations between the two countries suffered a major setback following the 2020 Galwan clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which resulted in casualties on both sides.
India has consistently maintained that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential for the continued development of broader bilateral relations. While both countries have taken steps to reduce tensions and maintain communication, differences along the border remain an important factor influencing the relationship.
Against this backdrop, Xi's visit to New Delhi provides an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the future direction of India-China relations at the highest level.
Prime Minister Modi and Xi had a brief interaction during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. Their expected bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit is likely to provide a more detailed platform for discussions on bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest.
Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said Beijing and New Delhi were making arrangements for the meeting between Xi and Modi. He also stressed the importance China attaches to implementing the strategic guidance provided by the two leaders.
"China and India are arranging for the bilateral meeting between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi. This will be the third year in a row for the two leaders to meet with each other, following their meetings in Kazan (Russia) and Tianjin (China)," Xu said on Friday.
The Chinese envoy said Beijing was prepared to work with India to strengthen communication, expand cooperation and appropriately manage differences.
"China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed," Xu said.
The proposed Modi-Xi meeting is therefore expected to attract considerable attention, particularly because it comes at a time when both countries are seeking greater stability in their relationship while managing unresolved strategic and security concerns.
The discussions could cover the broader trajectory of bilateral relations, the need for sustained communication and the importance of preventing differences from disrupting areas of cooperation.
Beyond bilateral issues, Xi's presence at the BRICS Summit is expected to contribute to discussions on major global and regional developments. The summit will bring together leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, with deliberations focused on strengthening cooperation within the grouping and exchanging views on international and regional issues.
For India, hosting the summit provides an important diplomatic platform to engage with major emerging economies and address issues of common interest. For China, Xi's participation underscores the importance Beijing attaches to BRICS cooperation and its engagement with India.
His first visit to India in nearly seven years also gives the two countries an opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to maintain high-level dialogue. The outcome of the Modi-Xi meeting, particularly on the broader relationship and the management of differences, will be closely watched as New Delhi and Beijing seek to consolidate recent efforts toward stabilising ties.
Disclaimer: This article is sourced from a news agency and has not been independently edited by the MaverickNews30 team. The copy has been slightly edited with AI assistance for language and presentation, without altering the original facts.
