Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India on September 12-13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The visit will be his first trip to India in seven years and comes as relations between India and China show signs of improvement.
China has officially confirmed that President Xi Jinping will travel to New Delhi this weekend for the 18th BRICS Summit. The announcement puts an end to days of uncertainty over whether the Chinese leader would attend the high-level meeting.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi will visit India from September 12 to 13 after being invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit is particularly significant because it will be Xi Jinping’s first trip to India since 2019, when he met Modi for an informal summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai.
Xi Jinping’s First India Visit in Seven Years
India-China relations have faced serious challenges since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and several Chinese troops.
The border tensions led to a prolonged period of diplomatic and economic friction between the two countries.
Before this year’s BRICS summit, Xi’s last visit to India was in 2019. He had previously travelled to India in 2014 and 2016, including a visit to Goa for the BRICS summit.
India-China Relations Showing Signs of Improvement
Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have gradually improved in recent years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China last year was seen as an important step toward rebuilding communication between the two countries.
India has also eased some restrictions on Chinese investment that were introduced after the 2020 border tensions. The changes have focused on areas including electronics, capital goods and solar cell manufacturing.
Both countries have also maintained high-level diplomatic engagement despite differences over the border and trade.
China’s Foreign Ministry has described India and China as “partners, not competitors”, suggesting that Beijing wants to emphasize economic cooperation and mutual development.
India-China Trade Hits Record Level
Despite political and security tensions, trade between India and China has continued to grow.
Chinese customs data shows that bilateral trade increased 12.4% last year to around $155 billion, compared with approximately $71.6 billion a decade earlier.
Trade has continued to rise this year as well. During the first seven months of 2026, India-China trade increased by about 23% compared with the same period in 2025.
However, concerns remain over investment and advanced technology. Some proposed investments by Chinese companies in India are reportedly facing additional scrutiny, particularly in areas involving sophisticated manufacturing and high-end technologies.
Why Xi Jinping’s India Visit Matters
Xi’s visit comes at a sensitive time for both countries. India and China are attempting to stabilize their relationship while continuing to manage unresolved border issues and economic concerns.
The BRICS summit will give Modi and Xi Jinping an opportunity for direct discussions on bilateral ties, trade, regional security and global issues.
The meeting could also provide a clearer indication of whether the recent improvement in India-China relations can develop into a more stable and long-term engagement.
For India, the summit is also an opportunity to strengthen its role within BRICS and discuss major global economic and geopolitical issues with leaders of other member countries.
