Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday. This marks Xi’s first visit to India in seven years. The discussions will primarily aim to strengthen efforts to normalize relations between the two countries, particularly addressing the longstanding boundary dispute.
Xi will be in the national capital to attend the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs and the Special Representatives mechanism have held several rounds of discussions over the past two years. India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi have also discussed issues including boundary demarcation, recently.
India and China announced several measures to rebuild confidence when Modi and Xi met in October 2024, shortly after the two sides reached an understanding to end the Ladakh standoff.
His visit was confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday, which said he was “travelling to India at PM Modi’s invitation”. Xu said: “China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be friends enjoying good-neighborliness and partners helping each other succeed,” the envoy wrote on X.
Since then, direct flights between the two countries have resumed, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been revived and border trade has restarted through three designated routes.
