Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi next month, according to three sources. If the visit occurs, it would be Xi’s first trip to India in seven years and follows efforts by both nations to stabilize relations after a period of diplomatic and military tension.
The visit comes after a series of high-level engagements intended to manage a long-standing border dispute. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last year for the first time in seven years, the relationship remains strained by recent diplomatic exchanges and reports of military encounters along the 3,800-km (2,400-mile) Himalayan boundary.
Indian sources told Reuters that Chinese officials are currently coordinating security protocols and hotel arrangements for a delegation of approximately 400 officials. This would be double the size of the delegation that accompanied Xi during his last visit to India in 2019. The Chinese foreign ministry stated it supports India as the current BRICS chair but noted it currently had no specific information to provide regarding Xi's travel plans.
The scale of the delegation—400 Chinese officials—indicates a significant administrative and security undertaking for the host city of New Delhi. For Indian citizens and businesses, the outcome of these talks may dictate future economic cooperation or restrictions; the sources noted that both sides are seeking ways to expand engagement despite competition. The meeting also serves as a signal to global markets and foreign governments, as both nations seek to maintain the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) bloc's influence amid shifting international trade policies.
What happens next depends on the scheduled summit dates of September 12 to 13. Ahead of the event, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday to discuss the boundary issue. While the summit agenda is set, the final details of a potential bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi have not yet been confirmed. The summit will follow a period of renewed tension after reports that patrols from both armies came into close contact in late July.