Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing for New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the two-day gathering.
The visit marks Xi’s first trip to India in nearly seven years and comes as New Delhi and Beijing work to stabilise bilateral relations following years of tensions along the border.
Xi is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi to participate in the BRICS Summit.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi’s delegation includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and director of the CPC Central Committee’s General Office, and Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
The Modi-Xi meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the two sides to discuss bilateral relations and broader international developments.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China will work with India to follow the strategic guidance provided by the two leaders.
She said Beijing wants to approach bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, while increasing communication, expanding cooperation and properly managing differences.
Mao also described India and China as neighbours and partners, signalling Beijing’s emphasis on maintaining stable engagement between the two countries.
During the summit, Xi is expected to address fellow BRICS leaders and participate in discussions on the international situation, the development of BRICS mechanisms and deeper practical cooperation.
China has also indicated that Xi will present initiatives and proposals aimed at supporting the development of broader BRICS cooperation.
Mao described BRICS as an important platform for solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries.
The New Delhi summit is taking place against the backdrop of major international conflicts, including the Iran-US conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.
China has said it supports a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable approach to security and favours resolving hotspot issues through dialogue.
Beijing has expressed its willingness to work with other BRICS countries to promote dialogue and negotiations while supporting regional and global peace and stability.
Xi’s upcoming visit will be his first to India since 2019, when he met Modi for an informal summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai.
His earlier visits included:
- 2016: Xi attended the BRICS Summit in Goa.
- 2014: He made his first visit to India as Chinese President and held extensive talks with Prime Minister Modi.
- 2019: He met Modi for an informal summit in Mamallapuram.
The 2026 visit therefore represents an important return to India after nearly seven years.
Xi’s visit comes amid efforts by India and China to normalise bilateral relations following tensions that emerged after the 2020 Eastern Ladakh standoff.
Ahead of the BRICS Summit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing on the boundary question, border peace and steps to improve bilateral relations.
During the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks on August 25, the two sides reached an eight-point consensus, according to the source material. The discussions included advancing work toward an early and substantial outcome on boundary delimitation and improving border management.
BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The grouping expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, followed by Indonesia in 2025.
The partner-country framework includes Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, according to the source.
India is a founding BRICS member and has previously held the group’s chairship in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
India assumed its fourth BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026, with the year also marking two decades since the grouping’s establishment.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13 in New Delhi as the current chair.
Following the summit, China will take over the rotating BRICS chairship.
This makes the New Delhi meeting particularly significant for the transition of leadership within the grouping and for discussions on the future direction of BRICS cooperation.
Xi’s visit carries importance on two fronts.
First, the Modi-Xi meeting could contribute to ongoing efforts to stabilise India-China relations, particularly through continued communication and management of differences.
Second, China’s participation at the BRICS Summit comes at a significant moment for the grouping, with India completing its 2026 chairship and China preparing to take over the rotating leadership.
The discussions could therefore have implications for both bilateral engagement and broader BRICS cooperation.
