India and China are preparing for a high‑stakes diplomatic engagement, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to hold a bilateral meeting on Saturday on the sidelines of the Brics Summit. If confirmed, this will mark Xi’s first visit to India in seven years, underscoring the significance of the moment for two of Asia’s largest powers.
Xi is expected to arrive in New Delhi around 11 am on Saturday and depart the following day, accompanied by a large delegation of senior officials and business leaders. Reuters previously reported that the Chinese contingent may include around 400 officials, nearly double the size of Xi’s delegation during his last India visit in 2019. The Chinese foreign ministry is expected to formally confirm his participation shortly, though it has already stated that China “attaches great importance” to Brics cooperation and supports India as host.
The meeting comes after a period of cautious engagement between New Delhi and Beijing. While friction points have reduced over the past two years, the status quo in Ladakh remains unresolved, and China continues to assert claims over Arunachal Pradesh. The relationship plunged to its lowest point since the 1962 war after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, where 20 Indian soldiers were killed. India responded with restrictions on Chinese investments and a push to diversify supply chains.
In October 2024, after multiple rounds of negotiations, both sides reached an understanding to partially resolve the Ladakh standoff, paving the way for renewed high‑level contact — including this anticipated Modi‑Xi meeting.