Xi–Modi meeting being arranged as BRICS summit opens new diplomatic test

BEIJING/NEW DELHI — China and India are arranging a bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this weekend's BRICS summit in New Delhi, potentially marking another step in the cautious thaw between Asia's two largest powers.

China's foreign ministry confirmed Friday that the governments are working on the meeting. Xi is due to attend and address the September 12–13 summit, his first trip to India in seven years.

Relations deteriorated sharply after deadly border clashes in 2020. Both countries subsequently deployed large military forces along their disputed Himalayan frontier, while India imposed restrictions affecting Chinese investment, technology companies and visas.

Tensions have gradually eased following troop disengagement agreements and meetings between Modi and Xi in Kazan and Tianjin. But substantial mistrust remains. Trade imbalances, market access, visa restrictions, Chinese investment and unresolved border questions are all likely to remain difficult issues.

The wider BRICS summit arrives at an equally complicated geopolitical moment.

The bloc now includes countries with very different positions on the Iran conflict, Russia's war in Ukraine and relations with the United States. Yet BRICS finance ministers have agreed to push for reform of the IMF, World Bank and other global financial institutions so emerging economies receive greater representation. They are also pursuing more efficient cross-border payment infrastructure.

Before the summit, Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. The two agreed to strengthen cooperation in energy and defence while discussing the wars in Ukraine and West Asia. Russia supplied a record 51% of India's crude imports in July as Middle Eastern disruptions increased Indian reliance on Russian oil.

For Xi and Modi, the meeting will therefore test whether diplomatic warmth can be translated into lasting economic and strategic progress.