Xi Jinping Expected to Visit India for BRICS Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit New Delhi on September 12 to 13 to attend the BRICS summit, marking his first trip to India in seven years. Xi is likely to be accompanied by a delegation of approximately 400 officials, doubling the size of the delegation sent in 2019.

The visit suggests a potential thaw in relations between the two nuclear powers following deadly border clashes in 2020 and a four-year military standoff that concluded with a disengagement pact in October 2024. Despite recent diplomatic tensions caused by army patrols meeting in July, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Beijing on August 24 to discuss boundary issues with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China has not officially confirmed the visit, it expressed support for India's role as the current BRICS chair. Observers suggest that trade policies from U.S. President Donald Trump have created a convergence of interests, encouraging both nations to stabilize ties to prevent external pressure from undermining the BRICS bloc.