The Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit New Delhi on September 12-13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, marking his first trip to India in nearly seven years. China confirmed the visit on Thursday, adding fresh significance to the high-profile gathering hosted by India. Xi is travelling at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his presence expected to put India-China relations under renewed international scrutiny.
Xi Jinping’s First India Visit Since 2019
Xi’s upcoming visit will be his first to India since October 2019, when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mamallapuram for an informal summit. Relations between New Delhi and Beijing subsequently deteriorated following the military confrontation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
The Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, triggered one of the most serious downturns in bilateral relations in decades. The prolonged military standoff also affected broader political, economic and diplomatic engagement between the two Asian powers.
Xi’s return to India therefore comes at a particularly important moment, as both countries have taken several steps in recent years aimed at reducing tensions and rebuilding communication.
India-China Ties Show Signs of Gradual Thaw
The military confrontation began to ease after India and China reached an understanding in October 2024 on disengagement from the remaining friction points at Depsang and Demchok.
Soon afterwards, Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. The two leaders agreed to revive mechanisms dealing with the border dispute and to work towards stabilising and normalising bilateral relations.
Since then, New Delhi and Beijing have taken a series of measures to restore selected areas of engagement. Direct flights have resumed, while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also been revived. Diplomatic and military channels have continued discussions aimed at preserving peace and tranquillity along the LAC.
The latest developments suggest that the relationship is moving cautiously away from the intense tensions that followed the 2020 crisis, although major challenges remain.
Border Dispute Remains a Critical Issue
Despite the improving atmosphere, India has consistently maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for the broader normalisation of relations with China.
In August, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, serving as the two countries’ Special Representatives on the boundary question, reached an eight-point consensus. The understanding included proposals for additional military meeting points, new hotline channels and the reopening of three designated border trading points.
The two sides also held their first corps commander-level meeting in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6, adding another layer to ongoing military-to-military engagement.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also reiterated that meaningful progress on the border remains necessary before India-China relations can be fully normalised.
Modi-Xi Meeting in Focus at BRICS
Xi’s participation in the New Delhi BRICS Summit has heightened expectations surrounding a possible meeting with Modi. Their interaction is likely to be closely watched for indications of whether the recent diplomatic thaw can be transformed into more sustained engagement.
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The two leaders could use the opportunity to review progress made since their previous meeting and assess the next steps on unresolved bilateral concerns. The border situation, restoration of economic engagement and wider diplomatic stability are expected to remain important areas of attention.
However, the summit is also much larger than the India-China relationship. As host, India is bringing together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping to discuss global political and economic challenges. The gathering provides New Delhi with an important platform to engage major emerging economies on issues including international conflicts, economic cooperation and reform of multilateral institutions.
BRICS Summit Carries Wider Global Significance
The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. With the grouping having expanded its membership, differences among member states have also become more complex.
Xi’s physical presence gives the summit additional diplomatic weight and places China alongside host India at the centre of discussions on the future direction of the expanded grouping. His visit also offers an important opportunity for high-level engagement between the two countries after years of strained ties.
For India, the summit represents both a diplomatic opportunity and a test of its ability to bring major powers together around shared economic and geopolitical priorities.
For China, Xi’s return to New Delhi signals the importance Beijing attaches to BRICS while creating space for direct engagement with Modi.
The immediate outcome of the summit and any Modi-Xi interaction will therefore be closely monitored, particularly for signs of further progress in stabilising India-China relations. While the visit is unlikely to resolve all outstanding differences, it could provide momentum for continued dialogue at a time when both sides are seeking a more stable relationship.
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