Xi and Modi to meet at BRICS summit in New Delhi, first China leader visit in seven years
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12-13, 2026, marking his first visit to India since 2019. A bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being arranged on the sidelines, their third consecutive annual encounter. The summit aims to rebuild ties between the two most populous nations, serving over 2.8 billion people, amid strained relations from border disputes and geopolitical tensions.
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BRICS Summit in Delhi: Bloc Seeks Common Policy Amid Differences, Xi Visits India
The 18th BRICS summit is underway in Delhi, India, with Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting India for the first time since 2019. The summit highlights the bloc's internal contradictions, described by analyst Srikanth Kondapalli as 'not Western, but not anti-Western.' China and Russia aim to curb Western institutional influence, while India insists on strategic autonomy and closer Western ties. Key attendees include Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Discussions will focus on trade, investment, technology, energy and food security, and resilient supply chains. De-dollarization, specifically advancing settlement in local currencies, is also on the agenda. The summit marks a cautious rapprochement between India and China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, though full normalization remains pending. Xi's participation signals China's intent to expand BRICS as an international platform ahead of its 2027 chairmanship.
China and India Arrange Bilateral Meeting Between Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi at BRICS Summit
On September 11, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed during a regular press briefing that China and India are arranging a bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in India. This would mark the third consecutive year of meetings between the two leaders, following their encounters in Kazan and Tianjin. Responding to a query from The Hindu, Mao Ning expressed China's willingness to work with India under the strategic guidance of both leaders to manage bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective. She emphasized strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation, properly handling differences, and fostering good neighborly relations and mutual success. The meeting is seen as a key opportunity to advance China-India ties amid ongoing border tensions and diplomatic engagements.
Read sourceXi Jinping's First India Visit Since 2019 Extends Olive Branch to Modi at BRICS Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit New Delhi from September 12-13, 2026, for the BRICS summit, marking his first trip to India since 2019. The visit aims to manage a delicate détente with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after bilateral relations deteriorated following a deadly border clash in 2020. Xi's decision to travel abroad, overcoming his preference for hosting foreign leaders, underscores BRICS' importance to Beijing. Analysts view the easing tensions as pragmatic risk management rather than a strategic reset, citing deep-seated distrust over border disputes, China's relationship with Pakistan, and export controls on critical machinery. India remains concerned about Chinese involvement in its neighborhood and restrictions on investment. The meeting follows a 2024 BRICS summit encounter in Kazan and a 2025 meeting in Tianjin. Key discussion areas are expected to include economic ties, people-to-people exchanges, and border dispute management. The unpredictability of US President Donald Trump's policies adds a new variable, with India-US relations strained and US-China relations improving, potentially strengthening Xi's position.
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China's President Xi Jinping to Attend 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that President Xi Jinping will travel to New Delhi, India, from September 12 to 13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. The summit brings together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss economic cooperation, global governance, and geopolitical issues. This visit marks a significant diplomatic engagement between China and India, amid ongoing border tensions and broader strategic competition. The summit is expected to address topics such as trade, development, and reform of international institutions. Xi's participation underscores China's commitment to multilateralism and its role within the BRICS framework, which represents a substantial portion of the global population and economy. The announcement was made via a routine press briefing by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
BRICS summit in New Delhi to host China's leader for first time in seven years
The upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi is expected to bring China's leader to India for the first time in seven years, marking a significant diplomatic moment. The summit will serve as a showcase for the two nations' efforts to set aside their disagreements and project a unified global role. This meeting comes amid longstanding tensions between China and India, including border disputes and strategic competition. The event highlights the BRICS bloc's ambition to assert itself as a counterweight to Western-dominated global governance structures. The summit's outcome could signal the direction of future bilateral relations and the group's collective influence on international affairs.
Read sourceXi and Modi Look to Rebuild Ties for 2.8 Billion People at BRICS Summit
A BRICS summit is expected to bring Chinese President Xi Jinping to India for the first time in seven years, marking a significant step in cautious diplomacy aimed at putting bilateral relations between the world's two most populous nations back on track. The meeting, which would serve over 2.8 billion people, represents a potential reset in ties that have been strained by border disputes and geopolitical tensions. The Financial Times reports that the summit provides a platform for both leaders to engage in dialogue, following years of limited high-level contact. The event underscores the importance of the BRICS grouping as a forum for major emerging economies to coordinate on global issues, while also highlighting the delicate balance both countries must strike in managing their complex relationship.