Xi Jinping is expected to remain in New Delhi for less than 24 hours after landing in the Indian capital on an Air China plane on Saturday. Nevertheless, the Chinese leader's first visit to India in seven years is the dominant theme of the BRICS summit this weekend. The meeting between Xi and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit appears to be an event simply because it involves the powerful leaders of the world's two most populous countries. “Two giants at one table” was one of the many headlines with which Indian television announced the summit.
In India, which sees itself as a global power of the future, people see themselves as equals to China. The fact that Xi's visit dominates the headlines is also an expression of the prominent position that China occupies in the BRICS. Its founding members also include Brazil, Russia and South Africa. It is therefore difficult for India to enforce its mantra that the group of states should not position themselves as “anti-Western” but only as “non-Western”. Russian President Vladimir Putin had already promoted the anti-Western rhetoric at the BRICS Business Forum. The “old” leading powers would be replaced by “new growth drivers,” Putin said.
However, the Xi-Modi meeting is also receiving so much attention in India because the two countries are making progress with the “normalization” of their relations after years of ice age. The conflict along their disputed border, which led to deadly clashes in 2020, continues to smolder. But in the past two years, the two countries have agreed on patrol routes in the Himalayas, resumed direct flights and visa issuance, and relaxed a few trade barriers. They have also agreed to initially prepare a possible demarcation of the border in the less disputed areas.
The rapprochement is probably also possible because US President Donald Trump has offended India several times recently - among other things, he temporarily imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. In the long term, however, Indian observers see little alternative to close cooperation with the West. With its desire not to position the BRICS in direct confrontation with the West, India has supporters within the group of states. In addition to Brazil, this also includes some of the new members who joined in 2024 and 2025.
The expansion to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia also poses problems for India as host of this year's summit: disagreements between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia over the Middle East war made it difficult to formulate a joint final declaration. According to the Indian press, an agreement - which has not yet been published - was reached on Saturday. India also tried to focus on issues such as energy and food security, climate change and digitalization, which also have consequences for the countries of the so-called Global South.
In addition, the participating countries have examined ways in which the different digital payment systems can be connected across borders. India is pushing this forward without directly wanting to question the dollar as the reserve currency. The fact that Trump threatened high punitive tariffs against the BRICS countries may also play a role. China and Russia are therefore largely supporting this course. In keeping with the spirit of the hosts, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev told the Reuters agency that BRICS countries were changing from a geopolitical alliance “to a more practical economic partnership.”
This also shows the effort to move the group forward despite the differences in strategy and worldview. Modi proposed a 10-point plan for “global governance” during the BRICS summit on Saturday. Beijing is also interested in not putting additional strain on the mood before Xi's US visit planned for the end of September. China can afford to tone down the rhetoric and present itself as an anchor of stability in an uncertain world. Since the BRICS chairmanship will be transferred to China next year, Beijing will soon be able to determine the BRICS agenda even more. Xi Jinping's appearance in New Delhi may be brief, but it could leave a lasting impression.
