Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the BRICS summit and talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his first visit to India in seven years as the two countries seek to steady ties.
Xi’s arrival coincides with a summit of the expanded 11-member BRICS group of leaders in the Indian capital, where they are set to discuss trade, investment, global conflicts and cooperation among emerging economies.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Chinese leader will meet Modi. The talks could be an opportunity to address lingering differences between the two Asian powers whose ties have deteriorated after a deadly border clash in 2020.
Relations have cautiously thawed since the two sides reached a 2024 agreement that saw troop withdrawals from a number of disputed border points. Although disputes over the Himalayan border and trade continue, India and China have since taken steps to restore direct flights and increase economic engagement.
India is hosting the BRICS summit as wars rage in Ukraine and the Middle East and tensions rise between the United States and China. The bloc is lobbying for a bigger role in global affairs as its members grapple with conflicting strategic interests.
