China’s Xi Jinping expected to visit India after 7 years. What’s on the agenda?

After a period of cautious improvement, China and India are on the brink of a significant encounter at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan next week. President Xi Jinping is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking their first face-to-face since 2017. The visit aims to advance bilateral ties beyond superficial interactions and focus on key issues such as the disputed border, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchange.

Although China has not officially confirmed Xi's India visit, it is anticipated that the Chinese leader's delegation will comprise around 400 members. At the SCO summit, Xi will be joined by other Brics leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While the primary agenda is likely to revolve around border management and confidence-building measures, the Chinese side has emphasized the importance of achieving a "political settlement" of the boundary question.

Both nations have expressed optimism about deepening cooperation, with the Indian embassy in Beijing confirming that discussions on the border issue have been "candid and in-depth." However, experts remain cautious about the prospects for substantial progress, suggesting that incremental steps rather than a comprehensive resolution are more likely.