Xi Jinping Arrives in India for BRICS Summit Amid Global Conflicts
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the BRICS summit, where leaders from major emerging economies are expected to discuss the impact of ongoing wars, trade tensions, and energy security.
The two-day meeting brings together leaders from the 11-member BRICS grouping, with the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine expected to feature prominently alongside international trade and energy-related challenges.
Xi’s India Visit Draws Attention
Xi’s visit is particularly significant because it is his first trip to India since 2019. The Chinese president received a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi, including an honour guard and traditional cultural performances.
The visit also represents an important step in the gradual improvement of relations between China and India following years of heightened tensions.
Relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours deteriorated sharply after a deadly military confrontation in 2020 along their disputed Himalayan border. Since then, both countries have taken measures to restore diplomatic and practical links, including resuming flights, easing some visa arrangements and increasing high-level communication.
Beijing said on Friday that it was prepared to strengthen communication and cooperation with India while working to manage differences between the two countries.
Border Dispute Remains a Major Issue
Despite the recent improvement in relations, the long-running territorial dispute between China and India remains unresolved.
Both countries continue to maintain significant military deployments along their approximately 3,500-kilometre high-altitude frontier, particularly in areas along the disputed border near Tibet.
Experts say progress on the border issue could become one of the most important outcomes of Xi’s visit.
Pradeep Taneja, a China-India relations expert at the University of Melbourne, said both sides could be seeking an “early and substantial harvest” in their efforts to address border-related concerns.
Xi and Modi Set for Talks
Xi is expected to hold direct talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Saturday, according to India’s foreign ministry.
The meeting is likely to focus on bilateral relations, border stability and broader regional and international developments.
Beyond China-India relations, the BRICS summit is taking place against a backdrop of significant geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, changes in global trade patterns and concerns over energy supplies are expected to shape discussions among participating countries.
Xi’s presence therefore carries importance not only for relations between China and India but also for the wider direction of the BRICS group as it seeks to strengthen cooperation amid growing global divisions.
