Xi Jinping Expected at BRICS Summit in Delhi

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, marking his first visit to India in seven years and signaling a potential thaw in tense ties. He is expected to travel with a large delegation of about 400 officials, a number that underscores Beijing’s desire to restore momentum in its relationship with New Delhi. Preparations are well underway, with hotel bookings, transport, and high-security measures being coordinated by both sides, and India and China continuing talks on the long-standing border issues that flared in 2020. While the summit’s BRICS agenda may be secondary to the optics of a diplomatic détente, observers note that past high-level exchanges, including Modi’s visit to China last year, have gradually opened lines of engagement on trade, visas, and disengagement along the LAC. Beijing has repeatedly stated its support for India’s chairing of this year’s BRICS summit and has not disclosed specific travel details, including any bilateral meetings that might occur. The broader context remains a fragile balance between managing border security concerns and pursuing closer economic and diplomatic ties as both nations face external pressures.