Chinese President Xi Jinping touched down in the capital city of New Delhi on Saturday to take part in the 18th BRICS Summit, touching down at Palam Airport. This arrival represents his first journey to India in seven years, his last visit having taken place in 2019. Bilateral relations between the two neighbors experienced severe strain following the deadly military clashes in the Galwan Valley in 2020. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, had already arrived in the capital on Friday ahead of the high-profile gathering.
Bharat Mandapam Hosts Summit as Bilateral Meeting Set for Evening
Following his arrival at Palam Airport, Xi Jinping is scheduled to head to Bharat Mandapam to join the summit proceedings. The focal point of diplomatic attention will be the direct bilateral meeting scheduled between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. That crucial engagement is set to take place this evening at 5:45 PM, providing what observers view as the most pivotal and powerful diplomatic moment of the summit.
Two-Day Agenda to Address Complex Global Crises
The 18th BRICS Summit spans two days, running through September 12 and September 13. The 11-member bloc convenes at a juncture marked by turbulent international conditions. Over the course of the two-day summit, discussions among member states are expected to center extensively on ongoing hostilities in West Asia and Ukraine, intensifying tensions in international trade, and pressing concerns regarding global energy security.
Efforts to Stabilize Ties Following the Galwan Clash
The Chinese head of state undertakes this trip at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are working toward stabilizing bilateral relations in the wake of the 2020 Galwan Valley confrontations. India has maintained a firm diplomatic stance throughout this period, emphasizing that preserving peace and tranquility across the border regions remains an essential prerequisite for any sustained progress and development in mutual ties. While Prime Minister Modi and President Xi had engaged in brief interactions on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, this summit in New Delhi is anticipated to host extensive and detailed bilateral discussions.
Direct Commercial Flights Resume After Six-Year Hiatus
Alongside the diplomatic engagements surrounding President Xi's visit, a major step forward has been taken regarding transport links between the two countries. China Southern Airlines is preparing to restart direct commercial passenger flights connecting New Delhi and Guangzhou on September 21. This resumption marks the return of direct air connectivity between the two hubs after an interruption of roughly six years. Earlier, Air India had also reinstated its own flight operations between New Delhi and China in February of this year.
According to China Southern Airlines, reopening the New Delhi-Guangzhou corridor will bring its South Asian operations to more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes. Guangzhou serves as an essential commercial and industrial engine in China, making the direct passenger service a significant conduit for Indian trade ties and business travel into the southern Chinese economic heartland.
