In a significant diplomatic development, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India this weekend to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The formal announcement from Beijing effectively ends days of heavy diplomatic suspense surrounding his participation.
Confirming the visit, China’s Foreign Ministry announced that President Xi accepted an official invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the summit scheduled for September 12–13. The confirmation came shortly after earlier official briefings had declined to provide definitive details on the Chinese leader’s travel schedule.
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First Visit to India Since 2019
This high-stakes trip marks President Xi’s first visit to Indian soil in seven years, following a prolonged period of strained relations triggered by the military standoff in the Galwan Valley in June 2020.
Prior to the border dispute, the two leaders maintained frequent direct engagements:
- September 2014: Xi visited India during the early months of Prime Minister Modi’s first term.
- October 2016: Xi attended the 8th BRICS Summit hosted in Goa.
- October 2019: The two leaders held an informal summit in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.
Economic Integration and Trade Surges
Despite diplomatic and military friction over the past several years, bilateral trade between the two largest economies in Asia has expanded rapidly. Chinese customs data reveals that trade between India and China rose by 12.4% last year to reach a record $155 billion—more than double the $71.6 billion recorded a decade prior. Early data for the current year indicates a further 23% jump in trade volume compared to the same period previously.
To support domestic manufacturing and critical supply chains, New Delhi has selectively eased investment restrictions on Chinese firms, particularly across technology sectors such as electronics manufacturing, capital goods, and solar energy production. However, proposed cross-border investments continue to face rigorous scrutiny from regulatory agencies in both nations.
Positioning as Partners
Addressing bilateral relations, Chinese diplomatic representatives noted that recent discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi reflect a shared perspective that the two nations should operate as “partners, not competitors.” Both sides emphasized that their respective national developments represent mutual opportunities rather than strategic threats.
The upcoming summit in New Delhi will gather leaders from across the expanded BRICS bloc, offering a crucial multilateral platform for high-level discussions on regional stability, global governance, and economic cooperation amidst ongoing global geopolitical shifts.
