Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend next month’s BRICS summit in New Delhi, potentially making his first visit to India in seven years and signalling a further easing of tensions between the two Asian powers, according to sources familiar with preparations.
India will host the BRICS summit on September 12-13, with Xi’s possible attendance drawing particular attention because of efforts by Beijing and New Delhi to stabilise relations following their deadly border clashes in 2020.
“Chinese officials are busy finalising hotels and security protocols,” an Indian source with direct knowledge of the preparations told Reuters.
Xi is expected to travel with a delegation of around 400 officials, according to two other Indian sources. That would be more than double the fewer than 200 officials who accompanied him during his previous visit in 2019.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last year for the first time in seven years, although improvements in bilateral relations have remained gradual. More recently, another border-related dispute prompted sharp diplomatic exchanges between the two countries.
Officials from both sides are expected to use the BRICS gathering to explore opportunities for greater engagement while addressing longstanding disagreements over their disputed border and regional security.
However, Xi’s travel plans have not yet been formally finalised, and details of any potential bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi during the summit remain under discussion.