Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the 18th BRICS Summit, leading a high-level delegation of senior Chinese officials. The visit is Xi’s first trip to India in seven years and has put the future of India-China relations in focus.
Xi left Beijing at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the BRICS summit in the national capital.
The visit comes as global geopolitical tensions, trade challenges and regional security concerns remain important issues for the two Asian powers. Xi’s engagements in Delhi are being closely watched for their possible impact on India-China ties.
#WATCH | Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Delhi to participate in the BRICS Summit 2026.
PM Modi is scheduled to hold
a bilateral meeting with the Chinese President later today. pic.twitter.com/1vOumvej5h
— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2026
Who Is In Xi’s Entourage?
According to Xu Feihong, China’s Ambassador to India, Xi’s entourage includes two senior Chinese officials, Cai Qi and Wang Yi.
Cai Qi is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
Wang Yi is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and China’s foreign minister.
The presence of the two senior officials comes as India and China prepare for high-level diplomatic engagements during the BRICS summit.
Modi-Xi Bilateral Meeting In Focus
China and India are arranging a bilateral meeting between Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
The meeting is expected to be an important part of Xi’s visit, which comes seven years after his previous trip to India.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said Beijing was willing to approach India-China ties “from a strategic and long-term perspective”.
China also wants to enhance communication and cooperation with India while “properly managing differences”, Mao said during a regular press conference.
The comments came ahead of Xi’s arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS summit.
China Southern Resumes Delhi Flights
Hours before Xi’s India visit, China Southern Airlines announced that it would resume regular passenger services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route from September 21.
The move will mark the relaunch of China Southern’s India service after a six-year suspension.
The airline said that after the Guangzhou-New Delhi service resumes, it will operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia.
The announcement comes as India and China are preparing for Xi’s visit and a possible meeting between the two leaders.
Spotlight On India-China Ties
Xi’s arrival in New Delhi has placed India-China relations firmly in the spotlight. His seven-year gap between visits, the planned meeting with Modi and the presence of senior officials such as Wang Yi and Cai Qi come as the two countries seek to manage their differences.
China has indicated that it wants to view bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective while increasing communication and cooperation.
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