Chinese President Xi Jinping has landed in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, accompanied by two of his most powerful aides — Cai Qi and Wang Yi — signalling the high diplomatic weight of his visit.

This marks Xi’s first trip to India in nearly seven years, with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to be closely watched for its impact on India‑China relations.

Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday morning at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was received by Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada, underscoring the ceremonial importance of the visit. This is Xi’s first India trip since 2019, when he met Modi in Mamallapuram, and his fourth overall since 2014.

Travelling with Xi are Cai Qi and Wang Yi, two of China’s most senior officials. Cai Qi is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and serves as director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

He is widely regarded as Xi’s right‑hand man and China’s second‑most powerful leader, having risen rapidly through the party ranks. His presence highlights the strategic importance Beijing attaches to Xi’s engagements in India.

Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister and a member of the CPC Political Bureau, is another key figure in the delegation. He has been deeply involved in India‑China diplomatic exchanges, particularly on the boundary issue.

Just weeks before Xi’s visit, Wang held extensive talks with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Beijing during the 25th round of Special Representatives’ discussions. The two sides reached an eight‑point consensus, including advancing talks on boundary delimitation and border management, aiming for what both termed an “early and substantial harvest.”

Xi’s meeting with Modi is expected to be pivotal. It will be the third consecutive year the two leaders have met, following interactions in Kazan and Tianjin. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasised that Beijing seeks to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle relations from a long‑term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, and properly manage differences.

She described China and India as “friends enjoying good‑neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed.”

Xi will also address the BRICS Summit, engaging in in‑depth exchanges with other leaders on pressing issues such as the international situation, BRICS institutional development, and practical cooperation. He is expected to put forward new Chinese initiatives to chart the course for deeper BRICS collaboration.

The summit is taking place against the backdrop of the Iran‑US conflict and the Russia‑Ukraine war, with China advocating a common, cooperative and sustainable approach to security.

Mao Ning stressed that Beijing is committed to promoting political settlements of hotspot issues through dialogue and looks forward to working with BRICS partners to safeguard regional and global peace.

The Modi‑Xi meeting will be closely scrutinised for signals on the future of India‑China relations, particularly regarding the border dispute and wider bilateral engagement.

The visit comes amid cautious efforts to stabilise ties following the deadly Galwan clashes of 2020 and years of strained relations. Xi’s presence, alongside Cai Qi and Wang Yi, underscores Beijing’s intent to elevate the diplomatic significance of this engagement.

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September. After the summit, China will assume the rotating BRICS chairmanship, further shaping the grouping’s agenda in the coming year.

ANI