Both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to attend the BRICS leaders' summit scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. Sources indicate that the Chinese side has informed India of Xi's likely participation, while Russia had previously confirmed Putin's attendance, along with Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.
India, holding the BRICS chair, will host the prestigious annual event. While an official venue announcement is pending, Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi is considered the probable location for the summit.
Significance of Xi's Visit Amidst India-China Ties
President Xi Jinping's potential visit marks his first to India since October 2019, when he attended an informal summit near Chennai. This comes after a period of strained bilateral relations following the border standoff that began in April-May 2020. Efforts to stabilize ties reportedly began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. During that meeting, both leaders agreed to complete troop disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Over the past 18 months, some progress has been observed, including the resumption of direct flights, easing of restrictions on Chinese firms, and the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. However, more than 50,000 troops reportedly remain deployed along the LAC, indicating that de-escalation and de-induction processes are yet to be fully completed. Xi's potential visit is seen as a highly anticipated diplomatic event given the ongoing complexities.
BRICS Expansion and Geopolitical Discussions
The BRICS grouping, which initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. Indonesia joined in 2025, bringing the total to 11 major emerging economies. This expanded bloc now accounts for approximately 49.5 percent of the global population, 40 percent of global GDP, and 26 percent of global trade.
According to Russian news agency TASS, a bilateral meeting between Putin and Xi is also planned on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. Putin is also scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31 and September 1, where Prime Minister Modi is also likely to participate.
A recent BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi discussed the agenda for the leaders' summit. India is reportedly seeking common ground among members regarding the conflict in West Asia, as divisions emerged during the foreign ministers' meeting. With no consensus on diplomatic language for the conflict, India issued a chair statement to balance the differing viewpoints among BRICS members like Iran and the UAE.