Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India on September 12-13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking his first visit to the country in nearly seven years. The visit, confirmed by China’s foreign ministry on Thursday, comes at a significant moment in India-China relations, which have shown signs of gradual improvement after years of tensions along the border. Xi is travelling to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the two leaders expected to use the BRICS gathering as an opportunity to review bilateral ties and discuss unresolved border issues.
The visit also comes as India hosts the expanded BRICS grouping amid major global conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty. Chinese officials have welcomed India’s BRICS chairship, while New Delhi has consistently stressed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A Significant Return
Xi’s September 12-13 visit carries significance beyond his participation in the BRICS summit. It will be his first trip to India since October 2019, when he visited Chennai for an informal meeting with Modi. Since then, relations between the two neighbours have been heavily affected by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and the subsequent military stand-off along the LAC. While the two sides have taken several steps towards easing tensions, mistrust and unresolved boundary questions continue to affect the relationship.
The upcoming meeting could therefore provide an opportunity for both governments to assess how far the recent thaw has progressed. Reuters reported that while political ties have improved, economic relations remain affected by regulatory barriers, security concerns and lingering suspicion. A bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi is also expected on the sidelines of the summit, which could give the two leaders a platform to discuss both immediate concerns and the broader direction of their relationship.
China has also publicly backed India’s role as BRICS chair. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong recently wrote that China extends “full support” to India for its BRICS presidency and is ready to work with member countries to strengthen cooperation. Chinese officials have similarly highlighted the importance of communication between the two countries. In June, Modi met Chinese representatives attending a BRICS security meeting and said India and China should maintain high-level exchanges, advance practical cooperation and safeguard the common interests of Global South countries.
Border Talks Continue
Xi’s visit comes after renewed diplomatic engagement on the long-running India-China boundary question. On August 25, Chinese and Indian Special Representatives held talks in Beijing, followed by an agreement on eight points of consensus the next day, according to China’s foreign ministry. These discussions form part of the wider effort to manage differences along the disputed border and prevent tensions from undermining the broader relationship.
The border remains the most sensitive issue between the two countries. The 2020 Galwan clash, in which soldiers from both sides were killed, led to a prolonged military deployment and a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations. Since then, military and diplomatic channels have been used to negotiate disengagement and reduce tensions at several friction points.
There have nevertheless been signs of a gradual reset. India and China have resumed or discussed greater diplomatic, commercial and people-to-people engagement, while their leaders have met at multilateral forums. Modi and Xi also met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in 2024, where both sides agreed on the importance of improving bilateral relations.
The wider BRICS summit is expected to focus on issues including global governance, trade, investment, technology, food and energy security, health, disaster resilience and cooperation among developing countries. India, as the 2026 BRICS chair, has sought to place the concerns of the Global South at the centre of the grouping’s agenda.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The return of a Chinese president to India after nearly seven years is an important diplomatic moment, but it should be viewed as an opportunity rather than proof that all differences have been resolved. India and China remain major neighbours with deep economic links, shared regional interests and millions of people whose lives are affected by decisions taken in New Delhi and Beijing.
At the same time, genuine peace requires more than high-level meetings; it depends on sustained communication, respect for agreements, transparency and a continued commitment to resolving disputes without escalation. The recent border talks and the planned Modi-Xi engagement offer a chance to build on the fragile progress made so far. In a world already facing multiple conflicts and divisions, can India and China turn this moment into a meaningful step towards lasting peace, trust and coexistence?
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