China Ends Suspense, Confirms Xi’s First India Trip in Seven Years for BRICS

China has formally confirmed that President Xi Jinping will travel to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13.
The announcement, issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday, ends weeks of uncertainty about whether the Chinese leader would attend the gathering hosted by India.
It will mark Xi’s first visit to India in seven years. His previous trip was the informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram in 2019.
Beijing stated that Xi would attend at Modi’s invitation. A bilateral meeting between the two leaders is widely expected on the sidelines.
The late timing of the confirmation—coming roughly 48 hours before the summit—had kept diplomatic circles guessing. Analysts noted that China often finalises high-level travel details close to the event to retain flexibility.
The visit occurs against a backdrop of gradual steps to stabilise relations after the 2020 border clashes. Direct flights and some border trade have resumed in recent months.
For both sides, the summit offers a platform to manage differences while projecting cooperation within the expanded BRICS grouping.
Other leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, are also expected in New Delhi.
Xi’s presence is seen as significant for the multilateral agenda and for the signalling value of a senior Chinese visit to India after a long gap.
Details of the exact bilateral agenda and the size of the accompanying Chinese delegation continue to be finalised.
The short duration of the stay—reports indicate roughly 24 hours—reflects the focused nature of the engagement centred on the summit programme.
Observers will watch closely for any language on border management, economic issues and broader regional stability that emerges from the meetings.
The confirmation removes the last major uncertainty surrounding attendance at the New Delhi summit.