Xi Jinping India Visit: Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India this weekend for the 18th BRICS Summit, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. His return comes at an important moment for India-China relations, with both countries seeking to stabilise ties after years of tensions.
Xi will visit New Delhi from September 12 to 13 to attend the BRICS summit, which is being hosted by India. His visit follows an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Xi’s last visit to India was in 2019, when he met Modi in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Since then, relations between the two countries have gone through a difficult period, particularly after the deadly 2020 border clash in eastern Ladakh.
Why Modi-Xi Talks Matter
Xi is expected to hold talks with Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, giving the two leaders an opportunity to discuss the next stage of India-China relations. Reuters reports that the meeting is expected to focus on efforts to stabilise ties and deepen economic engagement.
India and China have taken steps towards easing tensions in recent years. The two sides reached an agreement in October 2024 on patrolling arrangements along parts of their disputed Himalayan border, helping create space for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Although Modi and Xi have met at international forums since the 2020 border clash, including at the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Xi’s upcoming trip will be his first visit to India since 2019.
The distinction is important: Xi has not been away from Modi for seven years; he has been away from India for seven years.
What India and China Could Discuss
Border stability is likely to remain an important concern for New Delhi and Beijing. Both countries have an interest in preventing fresh tensions along their disputed frontier while keeping diplomatic channels open.
Economic relations could also feature in discussions.
India and China have substantial trade ties, but businesses in both countries continue to face regulatory hurdles, visa delays and restrictions affecting investment and the movement of industrial equipment. Reuters has reported that these issues continue to limit the potential for closer economic engagement.
A more stable relationship could also make it easier for both sides to address some of the barriers affecting trade, investment and supply chains.
However, a single meeting is unlikely to resolve all the differences between the two countries. The larger question is whether the leaders can maintain the recent diplomatic momentum and create conditions for more predictable ties.
Why Xi’s Return to India Matters
Xi’s visit comes at a time when both countries are attempting to manage their strategic competition while avoiding another prolonged confrontation.
The BRICS summit gives India and China a broader multilateral platform for engagement. The September 12-13 meeting in New Delhi is expected to address global governance, economic cooperation, trade, investment, energy security and other international issues.
For India, hosting the summit is also an opportunity to strengthen its role within the expanded BRICS grouping while advancing its own diplomatic and economic priorities.
For Beijing, Xi’s presence in New Delhi underscores the importance China places on BRICS and provides another opportunity for engagement with India at a time when bilateral ties are undergoing a cautious reset.
What to Watch From Modi and Xi
The key question will be whether the two leaders can turn the recent diplomatic thaw into more concrete progress.
Any movement on border stability, economic engagement or rebuilding mutual trust could strengthen the cautious improvement in India-China relations.
Xi’s return does not mean that the differences between New Delhi and Beijing have disappeared. Security concerns, economic restrictions and strategic competition remain.
But after seven years, the Chinese president’s presence in New Delhi gives both sides an important opportunity to demonstrate whether their relationship can move from confrontation towards a more stable and manageable phase.
For Indians, that makes the Modi-Xi interaction one of the most closely watched developments of the upcoming BRICS Summit.
