Chinas Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 11-13, first visit since Galwan clash

PTC News Desk: Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend BRICS Summit in New Delhi September 12 and 13, China's Foreign Ministry said. He is also likely to meet with PM Modi bilaterally on the sidelines of the summit on September 12.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India comes as ties between the two countries are gradually improving after years of military tensions and diplomatic strain following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

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A proposed meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping would be their first bilateral face-to-face talks since the deadly clash. It would also be Xi’s first visit to India in seven years and his first since the 2020 border crisis.

The two leaders recently attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Kyrgyzstan, where they shook hands but did not hold a formal bilateral meeting.

Ahead of Xi’s India visit, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval travelled to China for high-level talks. The two countries have also held meetings through the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs, followed by discussions between their Special Representatives on the boundary issue.

Thaw in India-China ties

India and China have taken several steps to stabilise their relationship after troops disengaged from multiple friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). However, the wider border dispute remains unresolved.

The Galwan clash in June 2020 resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China later confirmed that four of its soldiers were killed in the confrontation.

If Modi and Xi meet, discussions could cover the border dispute, regional security, trade and investment, people-to-people relations, and measures to prevent fresh tensions along the LAC.

BRICS Summit in New Delhi

The BRICS Summit will be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with India serving as the group’s chair this year.

The summit comes at a time when India and China are dealing with broader geopolitical and economic challenges, including US tariff measures and instability in West Asia.