Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to be one of the closely watched engagements on the sidelines of the two-day gathering.

The summit comes against the backdrop of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global trade tensions and concerns over energy security. Xi's visit is also significant as his first trip to India since 2019 and comes amid cautious efforts by the two Asian powers to improve ties.

Xi's first India visit since 2019

Xi's forthcoming visit will be his first to India in nearly seven years. His last trip was in October 2019, when he met Modi for an informal summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, Beijing is ready to work with India by strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation and properly handling differences.

The two countries have been working to stabilise relations following the 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border. High-level contacts have resumed, along with steps such as restoring flights and visas, although the territorial dispute remains unresolved.

India and China continue to maintain substantial military deployments along their roughly 3,500-kilometre border.

Modi-Xi meeting to focus on bilateral ties

Xi is expected to hold face-to-face talks with Modi later on Saturday, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs.

The meeting comes after recent diplomatic efforts to address the border issue and improve bilateral relations.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held extensive talks in Beijing last month on the boundary question, maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and improving ties.

During the 25th round of Special Representatives' talks on August 25, India and China reached an eight-point consensus and agreed to advance discussions towards an early and substantial resolution of boundary delimitation and border management issues.

However, mistrust remains over the disputed border, India's trade deficit with China and wider strategic differences.
Also read | ‘Over 40 percent of world's GDP produced by BRICS countries’: Putin takes potshots at G-7

Wars and energy security in focus at BRICS

The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, along with global trade and energy concerns, are expected to dominate discussions at the BRICS summit.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also attending the summit, said on Friday that pressure on Iran had reached a "critical and dangerous stage" following what he described as military aggression by the United States and Israel.

India has maintained relations with both Iran and Israel while also balancing its ties with the United States. The energy crisis linked to the US-Iran conflict has also led New Delhi to rely on Russian supplies despite pressure from Washington and other Western capitals.

Modi held talks with Pezeshkian on Friday, while he also met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

BRICS faces internal differences

BRICS was established in 2009 as a grouping of major emerging economies seeking greater influence in global institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers.

The bloc has since expanded to include 11 members, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose positions on the Middle East conflict differ significantly.

The grouping's growing diversity could make consensus more difficult. BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May.

The summit will therefore test the group's ability to maintain cooperation amid significant differences among its members.
Also read | PM Modi, Pezeshkian meet in Delhi amid West Asia tensions, reaffirm bilateral cooperation

India hosts 18th BRICS Summit

India, the current BRICS chair, is hosting the 18th summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia joined in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025.

India is a founding member and has previously held the BRICS chairship in 2012, 2016 and 2021. It assumed its fourth chairmanship on January 1, 2026.

The year also marks 20 years since the establishment of BRICS. Following the New Delhi summit, China will take over the group's rotating chairmanship.