Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit beginning September 12, Beijing confirmed on Thursday, ending speculation over whether the Chinese leader would attend the high-profile gathering.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Xi will participate in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13 following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit will be closely watched as it marks Xi’s first trip to India in nearly seven years and comes after a prolonged period of strain in relations between the two Asian powers.
Xi’s first India visit since 2019
Xi last travelled to India in October 2019 for an informal meeting with Modi in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Bilateral ties subsequently faced a major setback following the deadly 2020 confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley.
His return to India therefore carries significance beyond the BRICS meeting, particularly as New Delhi and Beijing continue to manage the consequences of years of border tensions.
Before the 2019 visit, Xi had travelled to Goa in 2016 for the BRICS summit. His first visit to India as Chinese president came in September 2014, when he held talks with Modi during their first terms as leaders of their respective countries.
BRICS summit to focus on global challenges
India will host the two-day BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The discussions are expected to cover areas including food and energy security, healthcare, disaster management and the resilience of critical supply chains.
The summit is taking place amid significant geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, instability in West Asia, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and US trade and tariff policies are among the wider issues shaping the international environment.
Apart from Xi, several other prominent leaders are expected to attend, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Consensus remains a key challenge
One of the major questions surrounding the summit is whether BRICS members will agree on a joint declaration.
The grouping generally works through consensus, which could make negotiations more complicated given differences among member states over ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
The situation in West Asia could prove particularly sensitive, with differing positions among BRICS members, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
BRICS has expanded rapidly
The BRICS grouping has changed significantly since its original formation by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia joined in 2024, while Indonesia became a member in 2025.
The grouping has also expanded its partner-country network, which includes Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
With its expanded membership, BRICS represents a substantial share of the global population and economy. Its 11 members account for nearly half of the world’s population, around 40 per cent of global GDP and roughly a quarter of global trade.
Under India’s chairship, the grouping has placed emphasis on four broad priorities: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Xi’s confirmed presence now adds further significance to the New Delhi summit, with his first India visit in seven years expected to draw considerable diplomatic attention alongside the wider BRICS agenda.
