China began preparations for President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to India several weeks before Beijing publicly announced his participation in the BRICS Summit, according to recent reports. The Chinese embassy reportedly submitted visa requests on August 27 for a 67-member delegation accompanying Xi Jinping.
The development indicates that detailed logistical preparations for the Chinese president’s India visit were already underway before his participation was formally announced to the public. Visa applications for members of a high-level foreign delegation are generally part of the advance planning required for an international visit. The timing of the request therefore provides an indication that preparations for Xi’s visit had progressed well before the official confirmation.
Xi Jinping is scheduled to travel to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit. The summit is being hosted by India as part of its BRICS chairmanship and is scheduled to bring together leaders of member countries for discussions on economic, political and international issues. Xi’s participation is particularly significant because it will provide an opportunity for direct engagement between India and China. Recent reports also indicate that Xi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit.
The reported visa request involved 67 members of Xi’s delegation. The development comes against the backdrop of a gradual improvement in India China relations following years of tensions. Relations between the two countries had deteriorated significantly after the 2020 border confrontation in the Galwan Valley. Since then, both sides have taken steps to reduce tensions and maintain diplomatic communication.
The two countries reached an agreement in 2024 that helped ease the prolonged military standoff along parts of the disputed Himalayan border. Since then, diplomatic and official-level engagement has gradually increased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping also held a meeting in 2024, which was seen as an important step in restoring communication between the two countries.
Xi’s upcoming visit is therefore being closely watched for its potential diplomatic significance. His presence at the BRICS Summit will bring the Chinese president to India for the first time in several years. His participation also gives New Delhi and Beijing an opportunity to discuss bilateral matters on the sidelines of the multilateral summit.
The early visa application for the delegation is significant because it shows that practical arrangements for the visit had been progressing before the public announcement. According to reports, the visa request was made on August 27, while Beijing’s formal announcement of Xi’s participation came later.
The visit is expected to include a bilateral interaction between Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Such a meeting could provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review the progress made in stabilising bilateral relations and discuss areas where further cooperation may be possible.
However, several challenges remain in India China relations. Issues relating to the border, trade, investment, technology and strategic concerns continue to require careful diplomatic management. Recent reporting has described the relationship as improving but still affected by mutual concerns and a trust deficit.
Economic relations are another important area that could receive attention. India has taken some steps to ease restrictions affecting Chinese investment, while regulatory scrutiny and security concerns remain relevant to major Chinese companies seeking to expand their presence in India. The two countries are therefore balancing greater economic engagement with continuing strategic caution.
The BRICS Summit provides a broader diplomatic setting for this engagement. As one of the founding members of BRICS, China plays an important role in the grouping. India’s hosting of the summit also gives New Delhi an opportunity to engage with Beijing within a multilateral framework while continuing its wider diplomatic relationships with other major powers.
Xi’s visit is expected to be brief, with the Chinese president scheduled to participate in the summit before holding bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi. Reports indicate that the visit is being planned as a high-level diplomatic engagement rather than simply a participation in the multilateral event.
The fact that visa preparations began weeks before the public announcement highlights the amount of advance coordination involved in arranging a presidential visit. Security, diplomatic coordination, accommodation, transportation and delegation arrangements all require planning before the arrival of a foreign head of state.
The upcoming visit could therefore become another important step in the cautious improvement of India China relations. While major differences between the two countries remain unresolved, regular high-level communication can provide an avenue for discussing those differences and preventing new tensions.
For now, the reported August 27 visa request offers a glimpse into the preparations that preceded the public announcement of Xi Jinping’s participation in the BRICS Summit. With the Chinese president set to travel to New Delhi and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attention will remain focused on the outcomes of the summit and the bilateral discussions between the two leaders.