2026 BRICS Summit: Xi Jinping Arrives in India
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi, India, on Saturday (12/9) to attend the 2026 BRICS Summit. The summit of this 11-nation bloc takes place amidst the shadows of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and global energy security challenges.
This visit holds strong symbolic value as it represents Xi’s first presence in India since 2019. The moment marks a significant step in efforts to normalise bilateral relations following military clashes on the Tibetan border in 2020, which had previously frozen high-level communication between the two nations.
The Chinese government has expressed its readiness to turn a new leaf with India. “Beijing is ready to work with India by strengthening communication, increasing cooperation, and managing differences effectively,” stated an official Chinese government statement, as quoted by AFP.
In addition to the main summit agenda, Xi Jinping is scheduled to hold a special bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradeep Taneju, an observer from the University of Melbourne, assesses this meeting as an effort by both countries to seek concrete solutions to territorial disputes.
“They are seeking quick and substantial results regarding the border issue. You cannot continue to accumulate troops on the border while simultaneously saying that economic relations must continue,” said Taneja.
The BRICS Summit is also attended by leaders of other member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. In his discussions with PM Modi, Pezeshkian emphasised the critical situation facing Iran due to military aggression from the United States and Israel.
However, the expansion of BRICS membership to 11 nations also brings internal challenges. Harsh V. Pant from the Observer Research Foundation India noted that differing political positions among members regarding conflicts in the Gulf could test the bloc’s solidarity.
“What was seen last year as an achievement—the expansion of BRICS—today appears to be a major obstacle for BRICS in unifying its voice,” said Pant. The summit is expected to produce strategic agreements amidst global trade and security volatility.