Xi Jinping Departs for BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Eyes Third Annual Meeting with Modi
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Chinese President Xi Jinping departed for New Delhi, India on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, marking his first visit to India in seven years. Beijing and New Delhi are arranging a bilateral meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which would be their third consecutive annual meeting following encounters in the Russian city of Kazan and Tianjin. The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that Xi will deliver an important speech at the summit addressing the current international situation and deepening practical cooperation.
Key Points
- Xi Jinping departed for New Delhi on September 12, 2026 to attend the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit scheduled for September 12-13
- This marks Xi's first visit to India since 2019, when the two leaders held an informal summit, ending a seven-year gap in in-person meetings
- China and India are arranging a bilateral meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Modi, which would be their third consecutive annual meeting
- Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China will work with India to strengthen communication, enhance cooperation, and properly handle differences
- Xi was accompanied by Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Director of the Central General Office, and Wang Yi, a Politburo member and Foreign Minister
Why It Matters
The potential Xi-Modi meeting represents a significant step in stabilizing China-India relations amid ongoing border tensions, with the summit serving as a crucial platform for Beijing to promote its "Greater BRICS Cooperation" initiative and shape multilateral discussions on global governance and economic development .
The potential Xi-Modi meeting represents a significant step in stabilizing China-India relations amid ongoing border tensions, with the summit serving as a crucial platform for Beijing to promote its "Greater BRICS Cooperation" initiative and shape multilateral discussions on global governance and economic development .