Xi Jinping heads to India for BRICS summit overshadowed by war

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday for the BRICS summit, alongside leaders from India, Russia and Iran. The meeting is expected to discuss conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, along with global trade turbulence and energy security issues. This will be Xi's first visit to India since 2019, marking a significant step in the cautious thaw between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

The summit comes six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Tibetan border in 2020, but ties have gradually improved through restored flights, visas and high-level contacts. However, the territorial dispute remains unresolved, with both sides retaining heavy military deployments along their roughly 3,500km high-altitude border.

During his visit, Xi is expected to hold face-to-face talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find early and substantial solutions to the border issue. Experts note that while people-to-people and economic relationships are crucial, there is a need to avoid force buildup on the border.

India has been navigating the energy crisis caused by the US-Iran war by turning to Russia, despite Moscow's war in Ukraine and pressure from Western capitals. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also warned of reaching a critical and dangerous stage due to pressure from the US and Israel.

BRICS, created in 2009, aims to give major emerging economies greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. The summit will see representatives from Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and India, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva campaigning for re-election in October. However, the Gulf conflict is expected to be the central fault line during the BRICS summit.