China's Xi Jinping may visit India next month for BRICS Summit 2026, 1st trip in 7 years | India News - Hindustan Times

**China’s Xi Jinping May Visit India for the 2026 BRICS Summit – First Trip in Seven Years**

New Delhi is preparing for a possible historic visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping next month, when India will host the BRICS summit for the first time in 2026. If confirmed, it would be Xi’s first trip to India since his 2019 state visit, marking a notable thaw in the bilateral relationship that has been strained by border stand‑offs and trade disputes. The Indian government has signaled that a large Chinese delegation is expected, underscoring the summit’s importance not only as a forum for the five BRICS members but also as a venue for high‑level diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing.

The prospective visit comes on the heels of renewed diplomatic overtures aimed at resolving the long‑standing Line of Actual Control (LAC) dispute. In recent weeks, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with his Chinese counterpart, State Councilor Wang Yi, in Beijing, where both sides reiterated a commitment to “peace and tranquillity” along the LAC and agreed to advance the process of border delimitation. While the talks deliberately omitted references to an “early harvest” of concessions, officials emphasized a continued push for a comprehensive boundary settlement, reflecting a cautious but constructive approach to a contentious issue that has erupted into multiple skirmishes over the past decade.

Analysts view the convergence of the BRICS summit and the parallel boundary discussions as an opportunity for both countries to recalibrate their strategic calculus. A successful Xi visit could signal a willingness to compartmentalise economic cooperation from security concerns, potentially easing trade frictions and paving the way for joint projects under the BRICS framework. Conversely, any setbacks in the LAC talks could spill over into the summit agenda, testing the resilience of multilateral ties. Observers will be watching closely to see whether the diplomatic choreography in Delhi can translate into tangible progress on the border and a more stable Indo‑Chinese relationship.