Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 31: Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit India in September to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking his first trip to the country since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash that severely strained bilateral relations.
The summit is scheduled to be held on September 12 and 13. If the visit materialises, it will be Xi's first visit to India in nearly six years and his first since the military confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Xi, who has served as China's President since 2013, has visited India three times, with his last trip taking place in October 2019, just months before the Galwan clash pushed ties between the two countries to their lowest point in decades.
According to sources, India and China are expected to intensify diplomatic engagement ahead of the proposed visit. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is likely to travel to China for high-level discussions, although the dates are yet to be finalised.
A meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs is also expected in the coming weeks, followed by talks between the two countries' Special Representatives on the boundary issue.
The upcoming Special Representatives' meeting will be the first since both sides agreed to establish a new expert group and a working group under the WMCC framework to carry forward discussions on the long-pending boundary dispute.
Officials expect the consultations to strengthen technical and diplomatic engagement on border management while creating conditions for broader political dialogue.
The series of planned meetings reflects efforts by both countries to maintain momentum in bilateral engagement after years of strained ties. The discussions are expected to focus on resolving issues along the LAC, preventing fresh border tensions, rebuilding strategic trust and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
If Xi attends the BRICS Summit, the visit is also expected to provide an opportunity for a bilateral meeting between the Indian and Chinese leadership. Discussions are likely to cover the boundary dispute, regional security, economic cooperation and the future trajectory of India-China relations.
The meeting would come at a time when both countries are navigating global economic and geopolitical challenges, including US tariff measures and rising instability in West Asia.
An official confirmation of Xi Jinping's proposed visit is yet to be issued by either New Delhi or Beijing.