Xi Jinping Arrives in India for BRICS Summit as Beijing and New Delhi Seek Stronger Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit, marking his first visit to India in seven years as leaders of the emerging-economy bloc push for stronger cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, economic development and finance. Xi, accompanied by senior officials Cai Qi and Wang Yi, is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening. The meeting will be their third in three years and comes as Beijing and New Delhi work to stabilize relations following years of tensions.

China-India relations deteriorated sharply after a deadly 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border, in which 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed. However, diplomatic and economic engagement has gradually improved following a more than four-year military standoff. Beijing has said it is willing to work with New Delhi from a strategic and long-term perspective, manage differences appropriately and develop relations as good neighbors, friends and mutually supportive partners. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are among the other leaders attending the summit.

Founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2011, BRICS was established to strengthen the voice of emerging and developing economies in global affairs and challenge the dominance of Western-led institutions in international decision-making. The bloc has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, significantly increasing its economic and geopolitical weight. Its agenda includes expanding trade, investment, financial cooperation and development while promoting greater representation for developing countries in global institutions.