China's Xi likely to visit India with big delegation for first time in seven years
By Saurabh Sharma and Aftab Ahmed NEW DELHI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend next month's BRICS summit in New Delhi with a large delegation, three sources said, in what would be his first visit in seven years and a fresh sign of a thaw between the rivals. India is hosting the September 12 to 13 summit, where Xi's presence would be watched less for the BRICS…
China's President Xi Jinping is reportedly set to make a historic visit to India next month, attending the BRICS summit in New Delhi, according to three sources. This would be Xi's first trip to India in seven years, signaling a potential thaw in the strained relations between the two nations. The BRICS summit, scheduled for September 12-13, will see Xi's presence being watched not just for its implications on the BRICS agenda, but also the broader implications for China-India relations after their deadly border clashes in 2020.
According to an Indian source familiar with the situation, Chinese officials are currently finalizing the arrangements for the visit, including securing hotels and setting up security protocols. This is a stark contrast to last year, when then-Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first visit to China in seven years. The two nations have been gradually improving their relationship, but a recent border-related dispute has led to sharp diplomatic exchanges.
Two other Indian sources added that Xi is expected to be accompanied by a delegation of around 400 officials, a significant increase from the fewer than 200 officials that attended his last visit in 2019. Both countries are anticipated to use the summit as an opportunity to explore ways to further improve their bilateral relations.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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