Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
Xi will travel to India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, according to a spokesperson for the ministry.
The visit is expected to draw significant attention to China-India relations, as the leaders of the world’s two most populous countries are set to meet against the backdrop of efforts to improve bilateral ties.
Xi’s attendance also underscores China’s continued commitment to BRICS, a grouping that has expanded in recent years to include several major emerging economies. The summit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation among member states on trade, investment, development, finance and other areas of shared interest.
For India, the summit provides an opportunity to reinforce its role in shaping the agenda of the expanded BRICS grouping while engaging directly with China on regional and global issues.
The meeting comes at a time when Beijing and New Delhi are seeking to stabilize relations following years of tensions, particularly over their disputed border. While diplomatic engagement has increased, differences remain over security, trade and strategic interests.
Xi’s presence at the New Delhi summit is therefore likely to give added weight to discussions on both the future direction of BRICS and the broader China-India relationship.
The 18th BRICS Summit will bring together leaders from member countries as the grouping seeks to deepen cooperation and strengthen the voice of emerging economies in global affairs.
The theme of the 18th BRICS Summit is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
