# Chinese President Lands in New Delhi for BRICS Summit After Seven Years, Bilateral Talks with PM Modi Scheduled for This Evening > Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, marking his first visit to India in seven years, with bilateral talks set alongside restored direct flights. **Type:** article · **Category:** Delhi · **Published:** 2026-09-12 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/delhi/sata-sala-ke-lnbe-antarala-ke-bada-bharata-pahunche-chini-rashtrapati-aja-shama-new-delhi-men-hogi-prime-minister-narendra-modi-ke-31428 · **Language:** English **Tags:** BRICS 2026, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, India China Ties, Guangzhou Flights, Bharat Mandapam 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. ## What this means for you The resumption of direct air travel between India and China alongside high-level diplomatic engagements will significantly improve commercial travel and regional logistics. - **Direct Flight Availability:** China Southern Airlines will resume direct passenger operations between New Delhi and Guangzhou starting September 21. Travelers will no longer need lengthy layovers through third-country transit hubs. - **Commercial and Trade Benefits:** Guangzhou represents a major industrial and manufacturing nexus in southern China. Direct links will reduce transit times and lower logistical friction for Indian business travelers and merchants. - **Broader Regional Connectivity:** The route brings China Southern's South Asian footprint to over 100 flights weekly across 8 round-trip routes. This expansion enhances overall flight options for passengers traveling across the region. - **Diplomatic Normalization:** This marks the highest level of direct dialogue between the two nations following years of border tensions since 2020. Greater diplomatic stability could pave the way for smoother commercial interactions and travel protocols. ## Why this happened The visit by the Chinese President is driven by the 18th BRICS Summit hosted in New Delhi and an effort to stabilize bilateral ties strained since the 2020 military standoff. - **Hosting the 18th BRICS Summit:** India is hosting the gathering of the 11-member economic bloc in New Delhi, prompting visits by member heads of state. President Xi Jinping is attending in person, marking his first presence on Indian soil since 2019. - **Fallout from the 2020 Galwan Clashes:** Fatal military confrontations in 2020 pushed bilateral diplomatic and commercial ties into severe strain. Both governments are now exploring avenues to manage relations while addressing ongoing border peace requirements. - **Pressing Global Disruptions:** The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, paired with trade volatility and energy security concerns, necessitate direct multilateral deliberations among member leaders. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. When and where did Xi Jinping arrive in India? Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Palam Airport in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. ### 2. When was Xi Jinping's previous visit to India? Xi Jinping last visited India seven years ago, in the year 2019. ### 3. When is the bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping scheduled? The bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping is scheduled for 5:45 PM on Saturday evening. ### 4. What are the dates for the BRICS Summit? The two-day summit takes place from September 12 to September 13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. ### 5. When do direct flights between India and China resume? China Southern Airlines is set to resume direct passenger flights between New Delhi and Guangzhou on September 21 after a six-year break. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._