China’s Xi arrives in India for Brics summit as wars, energy crisis loom

New Delhi, September 12 - Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in India on Saturday for a Brics summit alongside leaders from India, Russia, and Iran, amid ongoing conflicts and energy concerns. The summit aims to address issues such as the Middle East and Ukraine wars, global trade turbulence, and energy security. This is Xi's first visit to India since 2019, marking a significant step in thawing relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Tensions between the two countries remain high due to their long-standing territorial dispute over the 3,500-kilometer (2,175-mile) high-altitude border along Tibet. Despite this, China and India have been working to improve communication, enhance cooperation, and handle differences. During his visit, Xi is set to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling the strong strategic ties between India and Russia.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is also in New Delhi, voicing concerns over the critical and dangerous stage of pressure on Iran following the US-Iran war. Brics, a forum for major emerging economies, includes Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, among other nations. While Brics foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during a meeting in May, the summit is expected to confront the Gulf conflict as a central fault line.