Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the two-day BRICS Summit, beginning his first visit to India in seven years as the two countries seek to stabilise ties after years of tensions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Xi on Saturday evening, with trade and investment ties expected to figure prominently in the discussions.
Ahead of Xi’s arrival, Beijing called for India and China to approach their relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective while managing their differences appropriately.
Asked about the upcoming Modi-Xi meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said it would be the third consecutive year that the two leaders meet, following their meetings in Kazan and Tianjin.
“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," she said.
India-China Ties In Focus
Xi’s visit comes against the backdrop of efforts by New Delhi and Beijing to repair relations following the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh that began in 2020.
The two sides have taken several confidence-building measures over the past year as they work towards stabilising bilateral ties. The upcoming Modi-Xi talks are therefore expected to be closely watched for indications of how the relationship could evolve.
Ahead of Xi’s visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing last month on the boundary issue, maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and measures to improve bilateral relations.
During the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks in Beijing on August 25, India and China reached an eight-point consensus and agreed to advance discussions on an Early and Substantial Harvest of boundary delimitation and border management.
At the same time, concerns remain over Chinese military posturing along the Arunachal Pradesh sector
Xi’s First India Visit In Seven Years
Xi last travelled to India in 2019 for an informal summit with Modi in Mamallapuram near Chennai
Before that, he visited Goa in 2016 for the BRICS Summit. His first visit to India came in September 2014, when he held extensive talks with Modi during the first terms of both leaders
Xi is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior government officials and prominent business leaders.
BRICS Summit In New Delhi
India, the current chair of BRICS, is hosting the grouping’s 18th Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
Xi’s participation also gives the bilateral meeting wider significance, with the summit taking place amid a volatile global situation and efforts to strengthen cooperation among the expanded BRICS grouping.
BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The grouping expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while Indonesia joined in 2025.
Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries last year.
India is a founding member of BRICS and has previously chaired the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021. It assumed the chairship for the fourth time on January 1.
The year 2026 also marks 20 years since the establishment of BRICS.
