Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit India on September 12 and 13, 2026, to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, according to sources. Xi is expected to be accompanied by a large Chinese delegation of around 400 officials. However, there has been no official confirmation of his visit so far.
According to sources, Chinese officials are reportedly working on arrangements related to accommodation and security ahead of the proposed visit. If confirmed, Xi’s visit would mark his first trip to India in nearly seven years.
Xi Jinping last visited India in October 2019, when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second informal India-China summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai. At that time, the Chinese delegation accompanying Xi reportedly had fewer than 200 officials. The proposed delegation of around 400 officials this time would therefore be significantly larger.
Visit Comes After Years of India-China Tensions
Xi’s possible visit comes against the backdrop of efforts to improve relations between India and China following the military confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
In May-June 2020, Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed in the confrontation. The incident was followed by a prolonged military standoff, with both countries deploying large numbers of troops and equipment along the border.
The tensions significantly affected bilateral relations between New Delhi and Beijing and remained a major challenge for diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Xi Skipped India’s 2023 G20 Summit
Xi Jinping also did not visit India when New Delhi hosted the G20 Summit in 2023. China was represented at the summit by Premier Li Qiang.
A significant development in India-China relations came in October 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping held a formal bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The meeting followed an agreement between the two countries on patrolling arrangements along the LAC.
Border Issues Could Feature in Talks
According to sources, India and China may use the BRICS Summit as an opportunity to explore ways to manage their long-standing border and regional security differences while strengthening areas of cooperation.
However, the final details of Xi Jinping’s proposed visit have not yet been officially announced. The agenda for a possible bilateral meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also yet to be finalized.
If the visit goes ahead, the proposed India-China engagement could be closely watched for signs of further progress in bilateral ties, particularly on border stability, security concerns and economic cooperation.