Chinese President Xi Jinping’s return to India after seven years is putting the relationship between New Delhi and Beijing back in the global spotlight. Xi is scheduled to visit New Delhi on September 12 and 13 for the 18th BRICS Summit. The trip will be his first visit to India since 2019 and comes at a time when both countries are trying to move carefully beyond years of tension.
The visit is important not simply because of the gap between Xi’s India trips. It comes after a period in which political trust between the two neighbours suffered badly. The 2020 border confrontation in eastern Ladakh created a major setback in bilateral relations. Since then, border security, investment rules, trade and technology have remained sensitive subjects.
Now, both sides appear interested in keeping communication open.
BRICS Summit Creates A New Opportunity
The immediate reason for Xi’s India visit is the BRICS Summit. India is hosting the 18th edition of the leaders’ meeting in New Delhi, with discussions expected to cover economic cooperation, global growth, supply chains, innovation, sustainability and major geopolitical developments.
However, the most closely watched conversation may happen outside the formal BRICS agenda.
A possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi could give the two countries an opportunity to discuss their bilateral relationship directly. Such a conversation would be significant because India and China have gradually restored several channels of engagement after the tensions that followed the 2020 border crisis.
The two leaders have already met in recent years at international forums, while officials from both countries have continued discussions on the boundary and wider relationship.
Trade Could Be At The Centre
Trade is likely to be one of the biggest areas of discussion.
India and China remain major economic partners, but their commercial relationship has a significant imbalance. New Delhi has repeatedly raised concerns about the trade deficit and the difficulty Indian companies face in getting greater access to the Chinese market.
At the same time, Indian industries continue to depend on Chinese components and machinery in sectors such as electronics, solar energy and manufacturing. This creates a complicated situation: India wants to reduce excessive dependence on China while also ensuring that supply chains remain reliable.
Investment could also feature prominently. India has recently eased some restrictions affecting Chinese investment in selected sectors, including electronics and solar-related areas. Yet several Chinese companies continue to remain cautious about expanding their presence in India because of regulatory and security concerns.
For New Delhi, the message is likely to be clear: stronger economic cooperation will require greater trust, predictable rules and better market access.
The Border Question Cannot Be Ignored
Even if trade dominates the economic conversation, the India-China border will remain a crucial part of the relationship.
The 2020 confrontation changed the way New Delhi looks at Beijing. For India, maintaining peace along the border is closely connected to the overall health of bilateral ties.
Both countries have taken steps towards reducing tensions and maintaining stability along the frontier. India has also emphasised that progress on economic and diplomatic relations needs to be supported by peace and tranquillity in border areas.
This means the Xi visit should not be viewed as a complete return to the old relationship. Instead, it could mark another stage in a cautious effort to manage differences.
Technology And Business Remain Sensitive
Technology is another area where the two countries have competing interests.
Indian businesses want smoother access to machinery, components and technology that can support domestic manufacturing. At the same time, New Delhi remains cautious about Chinese involvement in strategically important sectors.
Reports indicate that Indian officials are expected to raise concerns about investment barriers and difficulties related to imports of high-tech equipment from China.
This reflects the larger challenge facing both governments. Political dialogue may improve faster than business relations because companies still have to deal with regulations, visa issues, investment scrutiny and supply-chain concerns.
A Reset, But Not A Complete Reset
Xi Jinping’s India visit could therefore become an important diplomatic moment, but expectations are likely to remain measured.
India and China have strong reasons to communicate. Both are major Asian powers, important members of BRICS and influential players in the Global South. Cooperation between them can also have an impact on global trade, supply chains and international diplomacy.
But major differences have not disappeared.
The border dispute remains unresolved. India continues to watch Chinese investments closely, while Chinese businesses remain cautious about the Indian regulatory environment. The two countries may be moving towards greater engagement, but trust will take much longer to rebuild.
For now, Xi Jinping’s India visit after seven years is best seen as an opportunity rather than a guaranteed breakthrough.
If Modi and Xi are able to use the BRICS platform to address trade barriers, border stability and economic concerns, the meeting could provide fresh momentum to bilateral ties. But the real measure of success will come after the cameras leave Delhi — through concrete decisions, smoother business relations and continued peace along the border.
For India and China, the next chapter may not be about becoming close partners. It may simply be about learning how to compete, cooperate and coexist without allowing differences to derail the entire relationship.
