A lot of diplomatic water has flown down the Galwan Valley since 2020, when Indian and Chinese soldiers engaged in a fierce clash.
“As two of the world’s most populous emerging economies, a stable, predictable and amicable relationship between India and China is not only in the interest of our 2.8 billion people, but is also a significant factor for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the wider world,” Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Doraiswami wrote in an article published in the state-run Global Times . China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters that Xi and Modi, who briefly met this month at a regional forum in Kyrgyzstan, believe the two countries are “partners, not competitors, and they represent opportunities, not threats, for each other’s development”.
During a meeting in Beijing last month between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides highlighted the positive impact of high-level leadership meetings on the trajectory of bilateral ties. Xi will on Saturday (September 12) hold talks on the sidelines of this week’s BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Earlier reporting noted: As Xi Jinping heads to India, China calls for ‘strategic’ and ‘long-term’ view of ties China on Friday (September 11, 2026) said it was willing to work with India to handle relations “from a strategic height and long-term perspective”, a day ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first trip to India in seven years. Earlier reporting noted: “This will be the third year in a row for the two leaders to meet with each other following meetings in Kazan and Tianjin,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.
Earlier reporting noted: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr.
This will be Xi’s first visit to India in seven years. He is also expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit
India-China relations have seen a steady thaw in recent years, and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India this weekend for the BRICS summit is expected to provide fresh momentum to efforts to normalise ties and trade. This will be Xi’s first visit to India in seven years. Trade between the two countries is also expected to be high on the agenda, particularly for New Delhi. For India, the agenda is likely to centre on fair market access, supply-chain reliability and the need to address the widening imbalance in bilateral trade as the two sides seek to expand economic cooperation.
He is also expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, being held from September 12 to 13. China is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching a record $151.1 billion in the year ending March 2026. But New Delhi’s trade deficit with Beijing has also hit a record $112.16 billion, up from $99.21 billion.
