Xi’s possible visit would be his first trip to India in seven years and is being viewed as a significant sign of improving relations between the two Asian powers.
India is scheduled to host the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Xi’s participation is being seen as important not only for the BRICS agenda but also for efforts to normalize relations between China and India.
One Indian source told Reuters that Chinese officials are finalizing hotel and security arrangements for Xi’s possible visit.
Two other Indian sources said the Chinese president could be accompanied by a delegation of around 400 officials. That would be roughly twice the size of the delegation that accompanied Xi during his last visit to India in 2019, when fewer than 200 Chinese officials reportedly travelled with him.
According to the sources, officials from both countries are discussing ways to strengthen bilateral engagement on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. However, long-standing issues, including the border dispute and regional security, are also expected to remain key topics.
The final agenda and other details of a possible bilateral meeting between Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not yet been decided.
China’s Foreign Ministry has not confirmed Xi’s visit. The ministry said China attaches great importance to BRICS cooperation and supports India’s successful hosting of this year’s summit.
India’s Foreign Ministry has also not commented on the report.
Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years, as relations between the two countries gradually began to improve. However, tensions have resurfaced in recent weeks, with both sides issuing strong diplomatic statements over a new border-related dispute.
China-India Border Dispute
China and India are the world’s two most populous countries and both are nuclear powers. They share a roughly 3,800-kilometre-long disputed border in the Himalayas, much of which has not been formally demarcated.
A deadly clash along the border in 2020 killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops. The incident triggered nearly four years of military tensions between the two countries.
Relations began showing signs of improvement after China and India reached an agreement on military disengagement in October 2024. However, the border dispute remains one of the main sources of tension between the two countries.
On August 12, India said maintaining peace along the border was essential for improving relations with China. Earlier in late July, Indian and Chinese troops were also reportedly involved in a face-off in a remote border area.
India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval began a visit to Beijing on Monday, where he is expected to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the border issue.
Although China and India remain strategic rivals on several fronts, U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies have created some common concerns for both countries. According to Reuters, Xi’s possible attendance at the BRICS summit could also signal that Beijing and New Delhi do not want external pressure to affect their cooperation within the bloc.
