What to Expect from Xi Jinping's Historic Visit to India for the BRICS Summit

Xi Jinping Arrives in New Delhi for BRICS Summit

Beijing: On Saturday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping touched down in New Delhi to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit.

During the summit, he is expected to engage in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi departed from Beijing on Saturday morning at the invitation of Modi to attend the summit.

Accompanying him are key officials, including Cai Qi, a close aide and member of the Communist Party's Standing Committee, and Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister and another member of the Political Bureau.

This marks Xi's first trip to India in almost seven years.

When asked about the significance of the Modi-Xi meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that this will be their third consecutive meeting, following previous encounters in Kazan and Tianjin.

Mao emphasized that China aims to collaborate with India to enhance bilateral relations, focusing on strategic guidance and long-term perspectives.

She noted that the BRICS Summit serves as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing nations.

Xi is set to address the summit, engaging with other leaders on pressing global issues and proposing initiatives to foster high-quality BRICS cooperation.

Mao highlighted the importance of the New Delhi summit, especially in light of ongoing conflicts such as the Iran-US tensions and the Ukraine-Russia war, advocating for a comprehensive approach to security.

Xi's visit is anticipated to be a significant diplomatic event, potentially influencing the stabilization of relations between the two Asian nations and enhancing BRICS collaboration amid a turbulent global landscape.

India, as the current chair of BRICS, will host the summit on September 12 and 13.

Xi's last visit to India was in 2019 for an informal summit with Modi in Mamallapuram, and he previously attended the BRICS Summit in Goa in 2016.

His upcoming visit is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with ongoing efforts to normalize relations following the 2020 Eastern Ladakh standoff.

Prior to Xi's arrival, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi engaged in extensive discussions in Beijing regarding boundary issues and improving bilateral ties.

During the recent Special Representatives' talks, both sides reached an eight-point consensus aimed at advancing boundary delimitation and management.

Given these discussions, the Modi-Xi meeting at the BRICS Summit is expected to be closely monitored for insights into the future trajectory of India-China relations.

BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia set to join in 2025.

Last year, several countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, and Nigeria, became BRICS partner nations.

India, a founding member of BRICS, has previously chaired the group three times and began its fourth chairmanship on January 1 this year.

The year 2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of BRICS, and following this summit, China will assume the rotating chair.