Xi Likely to Attend BRICS Summit in Delhi Next Month

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi scheduled for September 12 and 13, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Chinese side has reportedly conveyed its intention to New Delhi, and an advance team has arrived to handle security and protocol arrangements for the potential visit.

Xi is anticipated to lead a large delegation comprising officials, business leaders, and state-backed media representatives. His last visit to India was in October 2019, when he travelled to Mamallapuram near Chennai for the second informal bilateral summit. That visit preceded the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, which began in 2020.

The possible attendance comes as both nations continue efforts to stabilise relations following the border tensions. In October 2024, Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, initiating a process of rapprochement. Troop disengagement in eastern Ladakh was completed the following month, though over 50,000 soldiers remain deployed on either side of the LAC, with full de-escalation yet to occur.

Since then, ties have improved with the resumption of direct flights, visa issuance, easing of restrictions on Chinese firms, and the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The upcoming summit will mark two years of this rapprochement, and India is keen to host all BRICS leaders at the highest level, barring any unforeseen developments.

The venue has not been officially announced, but the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi is the likely choice. The Prime Minister's Office has indicated that no bilateral visits will be scheduled alongside the summit, though bilateral meetings with visiting leaders are expected.

Challenges remain on the bilateral front, including visa issues for Indian business travellers and reports of tension along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently acknowledged the difficult period between 2020 and 2024, stating that peace and tranquility in border areas are prerequisites for good relations. He emphasised the need for a stronger, more self-reliant India to compete confidently with China while maintaining dialogue.

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi in May discussed the summit agenda, with consensus on several issues. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was absent due to the Xi-Trump meeting in Beijing, with Ambassador Xu Feihong attending in his place. Wang later visited India in June for the BRICS National Security Advisors' meeting.