New Delhi: The suspense is over. Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, Beijing has confirmed.
The visit will mark Xi’s first trip to India in seven years, making his arrival one of the most closely watched moments of the 2026 BRICS summit.
Xi’s visit comes at a crucial moment in India-China relations, with both countries attempting a cautious diplomatic thaw after years of tensions following the deadly 2020 border clash.
While Xi’s participation in the summit is now confirmed, attention is turning to whether he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines.
Such a meeting could be significant for the future trajectory of India-China ties, particularly on issues including the border, trade, investment and visas.
Reuters reported that the two countries have made some progress in rebuilding diplomatic engagement, but deep mistrust continues to constrain their economic relationship.
India and China have resumed direct flights and New Delhi has eased some visa procedures for Chinese business professionals. At the same time, investment and technology flows remain subject to scrutiny on both sides.
This isn't just another BRICS appearance.
India and China are two of the world's most populous countries and major powers in the Global South. Their relationship has remained deeply complicated since the 2020 border crisis, when 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed in a clash in eastern Ladakh.
Since then, military tensions have eased in some areas, while diplomatic engagement has gradually resumed. But the trust deficit remains.
Xi’s return to India therefore carries significance well beyond the BRICS table.
BRICS Becomes The Diplomatic Stage
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13.
The summit comes as the grouping seeks to strengthen cooperation among emerging economies amid shifting global power equations and growing tensions over trade, geopolitics and the international economic order.
Xi’s presence gives the summit additional diplomatic weight and potentially gives India and China another opportunity to manage their complicated relationship.
For New Delhi, the challenge will be balancing cooperation within BRICS with its broader strategic concerns involving China.
For Beijing, Xi's India visit could signal that the two countries are moving towards what Chinese officials have described as a relationship based on being “partners, not competitors.”
The real test, however, may come after the summit when diplomacy has to translate into progress on the border, trade and trust.