Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India for the first time in nearly seven years to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. China’s foreign ministry confirmed the visit on Thursday, saying Xi will travel to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Xi’s visit is expected to attract significant attention as India and China continue efforts to improve bilateral relations after years of tensions along their disputed border. The two leaders are also expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the summit.
Xi last visited India in October 2019, when he met Modi in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after a military standoff began along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in 2020. The Galwan Valley clash in June that year resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops.
Tensions began to ease after India and China reached an understanding in October 2024 on disengagement at the remaining friction points of Depsang and Demchok. Modi and Xi met shortly afterwards on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, where they agreed to strengthen dialogue on the border issue and work towards normalising relations.
Since then, both countries have taken several steps to rebuild ties. Direct flights between India and China have resumed, while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also been revived. Diplomatic and military channels have continued discussions aimed at maintaining peace along the LAC.
In August, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who serve as Special Representatives on the boundary question, reached an eight-point consensus. The agreement included proposals for additional military meeting points, new hotline channels and the reopening of three designated border trading points.
The two countries also held their first corps commander-level meeting in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6.
However, India has maintained that peace and tranquillity along the border remain essential for the full normalisation of bilateral relations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated this position during his meeting with Wang Yi in July.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where leaders are expected to discuss global political and economic issues, international conflicts, economic cooperation and reforms in multilateral institutions.
Xi’s presence is likely to make his meeting with Modi one of the most closely watched events of the summit, particularly as both countries seek to stabilise relations while continuing to address unresolved border issues.
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