Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India this weekend to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, bringing an end to days of intense diplomatic speculation and marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
The confirmation was officially announced after China’s foreign ministry stated, “At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13.” The announcement followed initial reticence from Beijing, with ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier declining to provide confirmation.
Significance of the Visit
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Breaking the Ice: This trip marks Xi’s first visit to India since the 2019 informal summit in Mamallapuram. Bilateral ties experienced a severe chill following the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes. His previous visits include his initial trip in September 2014 and a 2016 BRICS appearance in Goa.
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Warming Diplomatic and Economic Engagement: Relations have seen incremental improvements recently, accelerated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China last year and mutual navigation of evolving global trade dynamics. New Delhi has selectively eased certain restrictions on Chinese investments—particularly within electronics, capital goods, and solar manufacturing.
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Trade Growth: Economic ties remain robust despite geopolitical friction. Bilateral trade surged 12.4% last year to a record $155 billion (more than double the volume from a decade prior), with figures climbing an additional 23% in the first seven months of 2026.
Quoting official statements, Beijing noted that President Xi and PM Modi—who recently interacted briefly at a regional forum in Kyrgyzstan—converge on the perspective that India and China remain “partners, not competitors” and represent mutual development opportunities rather than threats.
