Xi Visits India After Seven Years, Seeks to Reset Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting India to attend the BRICS summit, marking his first trip to the country in seven years as Beijing and New Delhi seek to improve strained bilateral relations.

Xi is expected to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit, scheduled for September 12–13.

High-level contacts between the two countries have gained momentum since Modi visited China last year. The leaders also held a brief meeting in Kyrgyzstan earlier this month.

China’s Foreign Ministry has described India and China as “not rivals, but partners,” while Chinese Ambassador to India Vikram Doraiswami recently highlighted the importance of stronger bilateral ties.

Relations between the two Asian powers deteriorated following a deadly border clash in eastern Ladakh in 2020. However, the two sides have since reached an understanding on troop disengagement and resumed talks through their special representatives.

Border issues, trade imbalances and market access are expected to feature prominently in the discussions. Bilateral trade reached $151.1 billion in the financial year ending March 2026, with India recording a deficit of $112.16 billion, up from $99.21 billion the previous year.

India has been seeking greater access to the Chinese market, stronger supply-chain cooperation and measures to reduce the trade imbalance. A Chinese business delegation is also expected to visit India.

The two countries have recently resumed direct flights, eased visa procedures and reopened border trade through Nathu La after a six-year suspension.