Xi Jinping is likely to visit India with a large delegation for the first time in seven years - media

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi next month with a large delegation. It will be his first visit in seven years and a new sign of warming relations between the rivals, UNN reports, citing Reuters.

Details

India is hosting the summit on September 12-13, and Xi Jinping’s presence will be assessed not so much in terms of the BRICS agenda as in terms of what it signals about efforts by Beijing and New Delhi to stabilize relations after deadly border clashes in 2020.

"Chinese officials are busy finalizing hotel arrangements and security protocols," one Indian source directly familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years, but relations have improved only gradually. Recently, a new border dispute triggered a sharp diplomatic exchange between the two sides.

Two other Indian sources said Xi Jinping would likely be accompanied by a delegation of approximately 400 officials, compared with fewer than 200 officials the last time in 2019.

Officials from both countries are expected to use the summit to explore ways to expand engagement while resolving long-standing differences over border and regional security issues.

Final plans for Xi Jinping’s trip and agenda for any potential bilateral meetings between India and China have not yet been finalized, the sources said.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, and supports India, the current chair, in successfully holding this year’s BRICS summit."

"At present, we have no information that we could provide" about Xi Jinping’s visit, the statement said. Xi Jinping skipped the last BRICS summit in Brazil in 2025.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs did not comment on the matter.