The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Xi would travel to India “at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi” to attend the summit.
Beijing initially remained tight-lipped
The confirmation came just days before the summit, after Beijing had initially refrained from confirming whether Xi would travel to India.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, when asked who would represent China at the BRICS Summit, said: “If there is news we will timely release it. You can stay tuned.”
The subsequent confirmation of Xi’s visit has now ended speculation over China’s representation at the summit.
Xi’s first India visit in seven years
Xi’s visit will be his first trip to India in seven years and is expected to draw considerable attention amid efforts by New Delhi and Beijing to stabilise bilateral ties.
The two countries have taken several steps towards improving relations in recent months. Their Special Representatives on the boundary question, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, held talks in Beijing in August, with both sides reaching a set of understandings on managing the boundary issue.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of continued economic and strategic concerns between the two neighbours. While bilateral ties have shown signs of a cautious thaw since tensions escalated following the 2020 border clash, significant differences remain, particularly over security, investment and trade.
Modi-Xi meeting in focus
A possible meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit is likely to be closely watched.
The two leaders' engagement could provide an indication of the progress made in the India-China diplomatic thaw and potentially open discussions on strengthening bilateral economic and diplomatic ties.
Xi’s presence is also significant for the BRICS grouping, with the New Delhi summit expected to address major geopolitical and economic issues confronting the expanded bloc. India is hosting the summit on September 12 and 13.
For New Delhi, the summit offers an opportunity to engage Beijing at the highest level while continuing efforts to stabilise relations without setting aside outstanding border and security concerns.