Xi to return to India after 7 years as Modi talks focus on trade, border and market access
The prime minister, Narendra Modi with Xi Jinping on 31 August 2025. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
New Delhi: The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, will arrive in New Delhi on Saturday for his first visit to India in seven years and is expected to meet the prime minister, Narendra Modi, during the 18th BRICS Summit. Trade, market access, the widening economic imbalance and border management are expected to dominate the bilateral as India and China continue efforts to stabilize ties after the 2020 military crisis.
Xi’s visit will last about 24 hours, according to the Times of India, with his arrival scheduled for Saturday afternoon and departure the following day. The visit is his first to India since the 2019 Mamallapuram informal summit with Modi and comes after incremental steps to rebuild diplomatic, economic and people-to-people engagement following years of strained relations.
China had formally conveyed Xi’s participation to the Indian side before publicly announcing the visit. the Times of India reported that Beijing officially sought visas from the Indian embassy for a 67-member government delegation, which includes senior communist party leader Cai Qi and the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi. A separate business delegation is also expected.
The report said the Modi-Xi bilateral is likely to take place on Saturday evening between a closed BRICS session and the dinner hosted by Modi for visiting leaders. China’s foreign ministry has separately confirmed that the two countries are coordinating arrangements for a meeting between the two leaders.
RNA Media had earlier reported that Xi’s return after seven years was expected to put the focus on his meeting with Modi and the broader effort to stabilize India-China ties after the border crisis.
Trade imbalance, market access in focus
Economic engagement is expected to be a major part of the talks. Modi is likely to raise India’s concerns over market access, supply chain reliability and the imbalance in bilateral trade, while both sides explore ways to expand commercial engagement.
India imported about $132 billion worth of goods from China in 2025-26 while exports were around $19.5 billion, leaving a merchandise trade deficit of more than $100 billion. New Delhi has been pressing for greater access for Indian businesses and a more balanced trading relationship.
Investment restrictions, visa delays and regulatory scrutiny have also complicated commercial ties. Direct flights have resumed, pilgrimage exchanges have restarted and India has eased some restrictions on Chinese investment, although business and visa barriers continue to affect engagement.
Border management remains central
The line of actual control remain another key issue. Modi and Xi had agreed at Kazan in 2024 to revive high-level engagement after disengagement in eastern Ladakh, but the wider boundary dispute remains unresolved.
The latest special representatives’ talks in Beijing in August produced eight outcomes, including further work on boundary delimitation and border management, additional military meeting points and two new military hotline channels. India and China also held corps commander-level meetings in the eastern sector on Sunday and Monday.
The recent engagement has helped reduce some of the tensions that followed the 2020 Galwan clash, but both sides continue to stress the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.
Xi’s visit has also drawn criticism from Tibetan groups in India. The Tibetan Youth congress condemned his participation in the BRICS Summit, accusing Beijing of eroding Tibet’s cultural and religious identity and calling attention to restrictions imposed in the region. The group’s statement reflects longstanding Tibetan opposition to Chinese policies, but it is not part of the official Modi-Xi bilateral agenda.
Xi will attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday before China assumes the grouping’s presidency next year. The Modi-Xi meeting will be closely watched for signs of whether the recent stabilization can translate into greater economic and diplomatic engagement while the underlying border and strategic differences remain unresolved.
