Xi Jinping Confirms India Visit, Modi Meeting Likely Saturday As Bangladesh PM Skips BRICS

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit New Delhi on September 12 and 13 for the 18th BRICS Summit, China confirmed on Thursday, with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely on Saturday. The visit will be Xi’s first to India in seven years.

“At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13,” China’s foreign ministry said.

Xi is expected to arrive in Delhi around 11 am on Saturday and leave on Sunday. He is expected to bring a large delegation of Chinese officials and business representatives.

The Modi Xi meeting comes as India and China attempt to stabilise ties after years of tensions following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The two sides reached an understanding in October 2024 to ease the military standoff in Ladakh, paving the way for Modi and Xi to meet at the BRICS summit in Kazan later that year.

The upcoming talks could focus on the border situation, trade, investment and other areas of bilateral cooperation. However, a broader reset remains difficult. Reuters reported that economic ties continue to face regulatory barriers, security concerns and mutual suspicion despite the recent diplomatic thaw.

The summit will also highlight India’s ties with its immediate neighbourhood. Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not travel to Delhi for the BRICS Summit, a diplomatic source said on Thursday. Earlier reports had indicated uncertainty over his participation after India invited him to the outreach session in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair.

Rahman is keen to visit India but wants a future trip to deliver concrete outcomes. A bilateral visit could take place by November or early December, particularly with the Ganga Water Treaty due for renewal by the end of December.

The source also said India could help Bangladesh address its energy shortage as a possible confidence building measure.

With Xi’s visit confirmed and Rahman staying away, the Delhi summit is set to become an important test of India’s regional diplomacy, particularly its efforts to manage ties with China while rebuilding relationships across South Asia.