Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS summit, his first visit to India since 2019, to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit aims to ease tensions and reset relations between the two countries, which have been strained for years, particularly following a deadly military clash in 2020 along their disputed Himalayan border that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
Xi's arrival comes as India hosts the BRICS summit, with other leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin and Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian also in attendance. The summit faces the challenge of finding common ground amidst the escalating war in the Middle East. Notably, Saudi Arabia had recently closed a key alternative pipeline to the Strait of Hormuz after multiple attacks from Iran-backed militants, highlighting the regional instability.
While the diplomatic thaw is evident with Xi receiving a red-carpet welcome and a public display of warming relations, business ties between China and India continue to face hurdles. Analysts point to issues such as investments stalled by regulations, visa delays, and restrictions on industrial equipment, indicating a gap between diplomatic progress and economic cooperation. Although a bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi is anticipated, its details were not confirmed by Beijing initially, yet it is considered crucial for setting the future direction of bilateral ties.
