Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India on September 12–13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking his first visit to India in seven years. His presence is expected to make the summit particularly significant, not just for BRICS but also for the evolving relationship between India and China.
Xi’s visit comes at a time when India-China relations are showing cautious signs of improvement after years of tension following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The two countries have gradually resumed diplomatic and economic engagement, but deep mistrust remains, particularly over the border, trade, and Chinese investments in sensitive sectors.
The biggest attention, therefore, may be on a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. Such a meeting would be the first bilateral interaction between the two leaders in India since the Galwan crisis and could provide an opportunity to discuss the Line of Actual Control, border stability and broader economic ties.
For India, however, Xi’s visit is about more than bilateral relations. New Delhi is hosting BRICS under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with discussions expected to cover economic cooperation, energy and food security, healthcare, disaster resilience and critical supply chains.
The India-China relations may not be resolved during this meeting, but maybe this will prove as a temporary relief.
Xi’s arrival could therefore be a diplomatic opportunity for both sides. India is unlikely to overlook its security concerns, while China has an interest in keeping ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies stable. The summit may not resolve the India-China relationship, but it could indicate whether the cautious thaw can translate into meaningful engagement.
