Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 10: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

Xi's visit is expected to be a significant diplomatic engagement amid efforts by India and China to stabilise bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation within the BRICS grouping.

The summit comes against the backdrop of a volatile global situation, including the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war.

India, which currently holds the BRICS chair, will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The visit will be Xi's first to India in nearly seven years. He last visited the country in 2019 for an informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mamallapuram near Chennai.

Xi had earlier visited India in 2016 to attend the BRICS Summit in Goa. His first visit to India came in September 2014, when he held extensive talks with Modi during his visit to the country.

The 2014 visit took place during the first terms of both leaders in office.

Xi's participation in the BRICS summit is expected to draw attention to the future course of India-China relations as well as cooperation among BRICS members amid ongoing global geopolitical tensions.