Xi Jinping To Attend BRICS Summit In India On September 12-13
Xi’s visit marks his first India trip in seven years.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India this weekend to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, China's government confirmed, ending days of uncertainty over his participation. Xi will travel to India from September 12 to 13 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a statement issued by China's foreign ministry. The visit is being closely watched amid efforts to improve ties between the two countries.
The announcement came after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier declined to confirm whether Xi would travel to New Delhi for the BRICS leaders' meeting. His refusal to provide details had prolonged speculation over the Chinese leader's plans. The eventual confirmation makes Xi's visit his first trip to India in seven years and comes at a significant point in the relationship between the two Asian powers.
Xi's last visit to India was in 2019, when he held an informal summit with Modi in Mamallapuram near Chennai. He had earlier travelled to India in September 2014 during the first terms of both leaders and visited Goa in 2016 for the BRICS summit. His latest trip follows years of strained relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed.
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India-China relations have shown signs of improvement in recent years, particularly after Modi's visit to China last year. New Delhi has eased some restrictions on Chinese investment introduced following the 2020 clashes, including in sectors such as electronics, capital goods and solar cells. China has also described the two countries as "partners, not competitors", while Modi and Xi briefly met this month at a regional forum in Kyrgyzstan.
Despite the diplomatic improvement, economic engagement continues to face challenges. Reuters has reported that proposed investments by Chinese companies in India are receiving additional scrutiny from Beijing, particularly in areas involving sophisticated manufacturing and high-end technology. At the same time, bilateral trade has continued to grow, rising 12.4 per cent last year to a record $155 billion, according to Chinese customs data.
Trade has increased further this year, with bilateral commerce during the first seven months rising 23 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier. Against this backdrop, Xi's presence at the BRICS summit is expected to draw attention to the direction of India-China relations. His visit provides an opportunity for the two sides to build on recent diplomatic engagement while addressing longstanding differences that continue to shape their relationship.
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