New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, marking his first visit to India in nearly seven years. The summit is being held in New Delhi on September 12–13 under India’s BRICS chairship.
Xi’s visit comes at a significant moment for India-China relations, as the two countries continue efforts to stabilise ties following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Since then, India and China have been engaged in sustained diplomatic and military-level discussions aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
New Delhi has consistently maintained that peace and stability in the border areas are essential for the continued development of bilateral relations. Recent diplomatic engagement between the two sides has indicated a cautious effort to improve relations and restore normalcy in areas of cooperation.
The two countries have also taken steps to revive people-to-people and economic engagement, including efforts relating to direct air connectivity, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, visas and trade. At the same time, differences over the boundary, trade imbalance, market access and strategic issues continue to remain important challenges in the relationship.
Xi’s arrival follows a recent interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, where the two leaders briefly exchanged views. Their expected bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit could provide an opportunity to discuss the broader direction of India-China relations.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong has indicated that Beijing and New Delhi are preparing for a bilateral meeting between Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi. He has also said that China is ready to work with India to implement the strategic guidance provided by the two leaders.
India and China established diplomatic relations in 1950, and their relationship has since developed across trade, investment, education, cultural exchanges and multilateral cooperation. Despite bilateral differences, both countries remain important members of platforms such as BRICS, the SCO and the G20, providing opportunities for cooperation on global economic governance and issues concerning the Global South.
Economic ties remain another major dimension of the relationship. China is one of India’s largest trading partners, although the significant trade imbalance in China’s favour remains a concern for New Delhi. India has also been seeking greater market access for Indian goods and a more balanced economic relationship.
The BRICS Summit is therefore expected to provide India and China with an important platform to exchange views on regional and global developments, economic cooperation, multilateral reforms and the priorities of the Global South.
President Xi is accompanied by senior Chinese officials, including Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and a key aide to Xi, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Xi Jinping’s New Delhi visit is significant not only for the BRICS Summit but also for the future trajectory of India-China relations. The focus will be on consolidating recent diplomatic progress, maintaining peace along the border, expanding mutually beneficial economic engagement and building a more stable relationship while managing unresolved strategic differences.