Zillar Barta Desk,New Delhi: China has officially confirmed that President Xi Jinping will visit India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026. The visit will mark Xi Jinping’s first trip to India in seven years and is being closely watched amid efforts to improve India-China relations.
Xi’s visit comes against the backdrop of a cautious diplomatic thaw between the two Asian powers following tensions that intensified after the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash. In recent months, India and China have taken several steps aimed at stabilising bilateral relations, including renewed diplomatic engagement and efforts to ease some economic and travel restrictions.
The BRICS Summit is expected to bring together leaders of the major emerging economies to discuss global economic cooperation, trade, development, security and other international issues. India is hosting the summit in New Delhi under its 2026 BRICS chairmanship.
Xi Jinping’s presence is expected to add further significance to the summit, particularly because of the possibility of discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While a bilateral meeting between the two leaders has been widely anticipated, its exact format and agenda had not been officially detailed in the reports available on Thursday.
Analysts say the visit could provide an opportunity for India and China to further stabilise their relationship. However, major challenges remain, including border issues, trade barriers, investment concerns and strategic mistrust.
The BRICS gathering in New Delhi will therefore be closely watched not only for its multilateral agenda but also for what Xi Jinping’s India visit could mean for the future direction of India-China relations.
