Chinese President [Xi Jinping]and Russian President [Vladimir Putin] are expected to travel to [New Delhi, India], for the high-profile 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, 2026, to address global governance reforms, boost local currency trade, and strengthen economic resilience under India’s chairmanship.
Diplomatic communications conveyed to New Delhi reveal that both leaders are preparing for in-person attendance. While Kremlin aide YuryUshakov formally confirmed President Putin’s travel plans, Chinese officials have also signaled President Xi’s high likelihood of participating. Additionally, a crucial bilateral meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping is currently being organized on the sidelines of the New Delhi event.
The venue for this gathering of the expanded 11-member bloc is anticipated to be the [Bharat Mandapam]. This critical location previously served as the centerpiece for major international summits.
If finalized, this milestone event will mark President Xi’s first official visit to India since October 2019. Relations between India and China experienced a severe downturn following the April-May 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). However, a steady stabilization of ties began after a breakthrough meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi on the sidelines of the 2024 Kazan summit, leading to a successful troop disengagement agreement. Recent progress, including the resumption of direct flights and visas, has further cleared the path for this high-level visit.
The foundational framework for the September leaders’ meeting was successfully laid during the recent [BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting] hosted by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in the Indian capital. The upcoming summit carries significant strategic weight as member states navigate escalating East-West tensions and shifting global trade dynamics. India remains positioned at the center of these efforts, working to foster unity and ensure comprehensive development priorities under its official 2026 theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability”.
