Xi Jinping expected to visit India for BRICS with large delegation after seven-year gap

After two years of a cautious thaw, China and India are heading towards a pivotal test: can the relationship move beyond managed optics to meaningful engagement? President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to cross paths next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Sources expect a short, tightly managed encounter on the sidelines of the August 31-September 1 summit that would set the stage for the main event – in...

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit New Delhi next month to attend the BRICS summit, bringing a delegation of around 400 officials, according to Reuters, citing Indian sources familiar with the preparations.Xi expected in IndiaXi is expected to travel to India on September 12-13, which would mark his first visit to the country in seven years. His proposed delegation would be more than twice the size of the Chinese contingent that accompanied him during his last India visit in 2019, when fewer than 200 officials travelled with him. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India for the September 12–13 BRICS Summit, alongside a 400-member delegation.The visit would be Xi’s first to India in seven years and comes amid efforts to stabilize bilateral ties.India and China are seeking progress… pic.twitter.com/SZswFH68mA— Asia Nexus (@nexusasian) August 24, 2026 One Indian source said Chinese officials were working on hotel arrangements and security protocols. However, Xi's travel plans and the possibility of a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not yet been finalised.Beijing backs BRICS summitChina's Foreign Ministry said Beijing attaches great importance to BRICS cooperation and supports India, the current chair, in successfully hosting the summit, but added that it had no information to share about Xi's visit.Efforts to improve bilateral tiesThe expected trip comes amid efforts by New Delhi and Beijing to improve ties following years of tensions over their disputed border. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on August 25, with discussions focusing on maintaining peace along the border and strengthening bilateral cooperation.Ajit Doval, Wang Yi To Hold Crucial 25th Round Of India-China Border Talks Today Ahead Of Xi Jinping’s Expected India VisitDoval is also in Beijing for the 25th round of Special Representatives talks on the boundary dispute with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.Relations strained after Galwan clashIndia-China relations deteriorated sharply after the 2020 Galwan clash. The two sides began easing tensions after a disengagement agreement in October 2024, followed by renewed high-level diplomatic engagement.

Last year, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years, but the relationship has only improved gradually

India-China relations have remained strained for years, largely due to ongoing border tensions and territorial disputes.

NEW DELHI - Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend next month's ​BRICS summit in New Delhi with ​a large delegation, three sources said, in what would be his first ​visit in seven years and a fresh sign of a thaw between the rivals.India is hosting the September 12 to 13 summit, where Xi's presence would be watched less for the BRICS agenda than for what it signals about Beijing ‌and New Delhi's ⁠efforts ⁠to stabilise relations after deadly border clashes in 2020."Chinese officials are busy finalising hotels and security protocols," one of the Indian ​sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.Also read: Before Xi Jinping's likely India visit, Chinese money is pouring inLast year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in ​seven years, but the relationship has only improved gradually. More recently, a fresh border-related dispute triggered sharp diplomatic exchanges between the two sides.Two other Indian sources said Xi was likely to be accompanied by ​a delegation of about 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 managing long-standing differences over the border and regional ⁠security issues, the sources added.Xi's final travel plans and agenda for ​any potential bilateral between India and China are yet to be finalised, ​the sources said.The Chinese foreign ministry said, "China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, and supports India, the current chair, in successfully hosting this year's BRICS summit.""We currently have no information available to provide" about Xi's visit, it said. Xi missed the last BRICS summit in 2025 in Brazil.India's foreign ministry did not comment.Also read: PM Modi, Putin set to meet at SCO Summit; another meeting likely this yearINDIA-CHINA BORDER ISSUEThe world's two most populous nations, both nuclear powers, ‌share a roughly 3,800-km (2,400-mile), largely undemarcated and disputed border in the Himalayas.Decades of relative peace along the border were shattered by 2020 clashes where 20 Indian and ​four Chinese soldiers ​were killed. The incident led ⁠to a four-year military standoff before reaching a disengagement pact in October 2024.But on August 12, India said peace along the border was critical to ties after reports that Indian and Chinese army patrols ​came face-to-face in late July near a remote border.India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday started his visit to Beijing to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to hold talks on the boundary issue.While India and China remain competitors, U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies have created one area of convergence, making Xi's attendance a signal that neither side wants external pressure to undermine BRICS.($1 = 95.7450 Indian rupees)

NEW DELHI — Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend next month's BRICS summit in New Delhi with a large delegation, three sources said, in what would be his first visit in seven years and a fresh sign of a thaw between the rivals. India is hosting the September 12 to 13 summit, where Xi's presence would be watched less for the BRICS agenda than for what it signals about Beijing and New Delhi's efforts to stabilise relations after deadly border clashes in 2020. "Chinese officials are busy finalising hotels and security protocols," one of the Indian sources with direct knowledge told Reuters. Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years, but the relationship has only improved gradually. More recently, a fresh border-related dispute triggered sharp diplomatic exchanges between the two sides. Two other Indian sources said Xi was likely to be accompanied by a delegation of about 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

By Saurabh Sharma and Aftab AhmedNEW DELHI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend next month's BRICS summit in New Delhi with a large delegation, three sources said, in what would be his first visit in seven years and a fresh sign of a thaw between the rivals.India is hosting the September 12 to 13 summit, where Xi's presence would be watched less for the BRICS agenda than for what it signals about Beijing and New Delhi's efforts to stabilise relations after deadly border clashes in 2020.

India's BRICS summit will test whether Xi's visit signals improving ties after deadly 2020 border clashes