The most consequential development at next month's BRICS summit in New Delhi may be Xi Jinping's decision to travel to India for the first time in seven years and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters has reported that Xi is expected to arrive with a delegation of around 400 officials, business representatives and support staff, suggesting preparations for discussions extending well beyond the formal BRICS agenda. However, there has been no official confirmation of Xi's visit yet.
Since the 2020 border clash, India-China ties have been defined by strategic distrust despite efforts at stabilisation. But both countries have gradually restored high-level engagement over the past two years. If the Delhi summit produces further movement in bilateral relations, it could also remove one of the biggest obstacles that has prevented BRICS from evolving beyond a platform for political messaging into a grouping capable of taking concrete economic decisions.
