Full Breakdown
Xi Jinping’s First India Visit in Seven Years Linked to the BRICS Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Planned Attendance at the New Delhi BRICS Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping is slated to attend the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, a two-day gathering that begins on September 12. The visit would mark Xi’s first trip to India in roughly seven years and is expected to include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the summit’s sidelines. Chinese officials have not issued a formal confirmation that Xi will lead the delegation, while several media reports treat his participation as highly likely.
Background & Context
Relations between India and China deteriorated after the deadly border clash in eastern Ladakh in 2020, which left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Since then, the two sides have taken steps to de-escalate, such as resuming direct talks in August and restarting limited border trade. High-level exchanges have included Modi’s visit to China last year and a brief meeting between the leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. India assumed its fourth BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026, positioning the grouping as a platform for Global South cooperation.
Timeline
- January 1, 2026 – India begins its fourth term as BRICS chair.
- September 8 – Beijing has not publicly confirmed whether President Xi will head China’s delegation.
- September 12 – BRICS summit opens in New Delhi; Xi’s attendance remains officially unconfirmed.
- September 11 – Prime Minister Modi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the summit’s sidelines.
Data & Statistics
- BRICS now comprises 11 emerging economies, representing ?49.5 % of the world’s population, ?40 % of global GDP, and ?26 % of global trade.
- Under India’s chairship, more than 350 meetings have been held in over 25 cities to strengthen ties among members.
- The summit agenda includes discussions on food security, energy stability, and resilient supply chains, with a “New Delhi Declaration” to be issued at the close.
Official Statements & Responses
- Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, called India and China “important neighbours” and said the development of bilateral ties serves both countries and the Global South.
- The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Prime Minister Modi invited President Xi to the summit and that Xi thanked him for the invitation, expressing support for India’s BRICS chairmanship.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The South China Morning Post and Economic Times report that Xi’s attendance is confirmed, describing the trip as a “first visit in seven years.”
- CNBC TV18 and another Economic Times briefing state that Beijing has declined to confirm Xi’s participation as of September 8, emphasizing that the invitation does not constitute an official confirmation.
- No definitive statement from the Chinese presidency or foreign ministry has been released, leaving the exact composition of the Chinese delegation uncertain.
Why It Matters / Impact
Xi’s presence would provide a high-profile venue for India and China to deepen diplomatic engagement after a period of tension. The bilateral talks are expected to address the large trade deficit, explore Chinese investment in electronics and solar cells, and potentially open the Indian market to Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturers. A diplomatic thaw could also influence broader BRICS dynamics as the grouping seeks a unified front on issues ranging from food security to multilateral governance.
*All dates mentioned are drawn from the provided date ledger; other temporal references are generalized.*
