Xi to visit New Delhi for BRICS summit, marking first India trip since 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi this weekend, his first visit to India in nearly seven years. The trip follows a busy diplomatic schedule that included stops in Kyrgyzstan and Egypt, with a planned visit to Washington later this month. The visit comes as China and India work to improve relations after a deadly border clash in 2020, with recent steps including resuming direct flights and border trade.
Xi's attendance in New Delhi follows a whirlwind diplomatic tour that included the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan and a state visit to Egypt. He is also scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington later this month. The Delhi gathering will bring together leaders including Vladimir Putin, Cyril Ramaphosa, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The trip signals a continued thaw in bilateral ties following the 2020 border clash. Recent confidence-building measures include the resumption of direct flights and border trade, alongside August boundary talks in Beijing where Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the shared interests of both nations and the Global South.
The summit could ease regional tensions, potentially benefiting border communities through renewed trade and stability. Improved engagement may foster broader economic cooperation, while the resumption of flights and border trade could directly affect travelers and local merchants. However, lingering distrust from the 2020 clash means the impact on everyday relations may remain gradual, with lasting benefits dependent on sustained dialogue.