Full Breakdown
Xi’s First India Visit in Seven Years Sets the Stage for a Tense BRICS Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 12, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, his first trip to India since 2019. The two-day gathering brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Xi is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the summit’s sidelines, marking the third consecutive year the leaders have held bilateral talks. The summit unfolds against ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, soaring energy prices and heightened U.S.–China rivalry.
Background and Context
Relations soured after a deadly clash along the disputed Himalayan border in 2020 that killed 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. Since then, both sides have restored flights, visas and high-level contacts, but the Line of Actual Control remains heavily militarised. India’s “strategic hedging” seeks to balance deepening ties with the United States, the Quad and Western partners while engaging China, Russia and Iran within BRICS.
Timeline
- 2020 – Deadly border clash in Ladakh.
- 2019 – Xi’s previous visit to India (Chennai).
- 2024 – Xi and Modi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.
- 2025 – Xi and Modi met in Tianjin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
- September 12, 2026 – Xi arrives in New Delhi; summit opens.
Data and Statistics
- BRICS now comprises 11 full members and represents roughly 49.5 % of the world’s population, 40 % of global GDP and over 25 % of global trade.
- The bloc’s expansion added Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, increasing internal diversity and diplomatic friction.
Why It Matters
The summit tests whether BRICS can function as a cohesive platform for the Global South while accommodating divergent positions on the Middle-East war, sanctions on Russia and Iran, and de-dollarisation. For India, hosting offers a chance to demonstrate “strategic autonomy” and to leverage the bloc to offset U.S. tariff pressure. For China, the visit underscores Beijing’s interest in a constructive relationship with its populous neighbour amid broader geopolitical competition.
Official Statements & Responses
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed Xi’s arrival, stating the meeting would focus on “constructive discussions” covering trade, people-to-people exchange and border management.
Criticism & Opposition
- The Tibetan Youth Congress condemned Xi’s presence, accusing him of overseeing “cultural genocide” in Tibet.
- Reema Bhattacharya, head of Asia research at Verisk Maplecroft, warned that “India-China rivalry remains the biggest brake on BRICS cohesion.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Reuters reported that the summit’s joint declaration would be a generic condemnation of unilateral war without naming any country, while Bloomberg cited an Indian official who said the 10 full members and Saudi Arabia had already agreed on a joint communique despite “sharply divergent geopolitical positions.”
- Sources differ on the extent to which the expanded membership has hampered consensus: some describe the bloc’s growth as a “constraint”, others as a “historic achievement” that enhances the Global South’s voice.
What’s Next
China is slated to assume the BRICS rotating presidency in 2027 and host the 19th summit, positioning Xi to shape the bloc’s agenda further. India will continue bilateral talks with China on border confidence-building measures, while both sides monitor U.S. tariff policies that influence their strategic calculations.