NEW DELHI — Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to New Delhi to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2026, marking what would be his first official trip to India in nearly seven years. The anticipated visit highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts between New Delhi and Beijing to normalize bilateral relations and stabilize the Line of Actual Control following severe strains triggered by the 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes.
Diplomatic delegations and security teams from Beijing are actively working to finalize accommodation, security arrangements, and protocol logistics for the Chinese delegation ahead of the high-profile multilateral gathering in the capital.
The bilateral thaw comes alongside direct high-level negotiations, with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visiting Beijing to lead the 25th round of boundary talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During his official visit, Doval also met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng to discuss frontier management, trade normalization, and mutual diplomatic priorities ahead of the summit.
Recent months have seen incremental progress in rebuilding cross-border ties, characterized by the resumption of direct commercial flights between Delhi and Beijing, the reopening of traditional border trade, and the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously met President Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin in 2025, during which both leaders emphasized that lasting bilateral stability must rest on mutual respect, trust, and sensitivity.
