Full Breakdown
Xi Jinping Expected at BRICS Summit in New Delhi
8/24/2026, 9:32:46 PM
Expected Attendance at the BRICS Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to travel to New Delhi for the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13. Three sources familiar with the arrangements told Reuters that Xi would arrive with a delegation of roughly 400 officials, a size notably larger than the fewer than 200 officials who accompanied his last visit to India in 2019. The trip would mark Xi’s first visit to India in seven years and would be observed as a signal of a possible thaw in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Background & Recent Border Developments
The India-China relationship remains strained by a disputed Himalayan border that stretches about 3,800 km. In 2020, clashes along the line of actual control left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead, prompting a four-year military stand-off that ended with a disengagement pact in October 2024. Further diplomatic activity followed when India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval began a visit to Beijing on August 24 to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks on the boundary issue.
Official Statements & Verbatim Quotes
“China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, and supports India, the current chair, in successfully hosting this year’s BRICS summit.” — The Chinese foreign ministry The ministry added that it had “no information available to provide” regarding the specifics of Xi’s itinerary. India’s Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the matter.
Data & Statistics
- Delegation size: ? 400 officials (vs. < 200 in 2019).
- Border casualties in 2020: 20 Indian, 4 Chinese soldiers killed.
- Border length: ? 3,800 km largely undemarcated.
Implications for Regional Relations
Analysts note that the summit could serve as a platform for both sides to expand engagement while managing longstanding disputes over the border and broader regional security. The article also observes that, despite competition, the two countries share a convergence point in U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies, suggesting that Xi’s attendance may signal a desire to limit external pressure on the BRICS grouping. The outcome of any bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit remains uncertain, as final plans for Xi’s visit have not been confirmed.
