Xi Jinping is likely to attend the September BRICS summit in New Delhi with around 400 officials, in what could mark a significant step in the cautious improvement of India-China ties.
New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s possible visit to India for next month’s BRICS summit could carry significance well beyond the grouping’s annual agenda. If confirmed, the visit would mark Xi’s return to India after seven years and come at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are cautiously trying to stabilise ties following years of border tensions.
India is scheduled to host the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Three Indian sources cited by Reuters said Xi is likely to attend and could be accompanied by around 400 officials- more than twice the size of the delegation that travelled with him to India in 2019.
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Why the size of Xi’s delegation matters
The reported scale of the Chinese delegation has drawn attention as preparations for the possible visit get underway. One Indian source said Chinese officials were working on hotel bookings and security arrangements.
A delegation of around 400 officials would underline the logistical and diplomatic importance Beijing could attach to the visit. It could also provide space for officials from multiple ministries and sectors to engage with their Indian counterparts on issues extending beyond the BRICS agenda.
However, China has not confirmed Xi’s travel plans. The Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing attaches great importance to BRICS cooperation and supports India in hosting the summit, but added that it had no information to provide on Xi’s visit.
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A possible reset after years of border tensions
Xi’s potential arrival in New Delhi comes against the backdrop of a fragile improvement in India-China relations.
The 2020 clashes along the disputed Himalayan border, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers, triggered a prolonged military standoff. The two countries reached a disengagement agreement in October 2024, helping reduce military tensions, although the wider boundary dispute remains unresolved.
India has continued to stress that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for the broader relationship. Reports of Indian and Chinese patrols coming face-to-face in a remote border area in late July have also highlighted the sensitivity of the situation.
Doval-Wang talks add another layer
Xi’s possible visit comes as India and China are simultaneously working through diplomatic channels on the boundary issue.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval began a visit to Beijing on Monday for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The discussions are expected to focus on the boundary question and broader efforts to manage bilateral tensions.
Against this backdrop, a possible Xi visit could offer the two sides another high-level opportunity to assess the direction of their relationship.
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Will Modi-Xi talks happen?
One of the biggest questions surrounding Xi’s possible India visit is whether he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The agenda for any such meeting has not been finalised, according to the sources. If the meeting takes place, the border dispute, restoring economic engagement and regional security are likely to be among the issues attracting attention.
Modi visited China last year for the first time in seven years, signalling a gradual return to high-level engagement after the prolonged tensions that followed the 2020 clashes.
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BRICS becomes a diplomatic test
For India, Xi’s possible attendance could turn the BRICS summit into an important test of whether improving India-China engagement can continue despite unresolved strategic differences.
The two countries remain competitors, but both have an interest in keeping BRICS cooperation functional amid wider geopolitical and economic pressures. Xi’s presence would therefore provide an opportunity for dialogue without requiring either side to resolve its more difficult disputes immediately.
For now, however, the visit remains unconfirmed. The final travel plans, the size of the Chinese delegation and any possible Modi-Xi bilateral will become clearer only as preparations for the September summit progress.
Published: 25 Aug 2026, 12:56 pm IST
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