Modi-Xi Jinping hold bilateral talks at 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi
Synopsis
Modi and Xi Jinping sat down for formal bilateral talks at New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam — their third consecutive annual meeting and the most symbolically significant since Galwan. With India hosting the BRICS chair and China's ambassador publicly signalling goodwill, the optics point to calibrated de-escalation, but the substance on borders and trade remains the real test.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12 September .
This marks the third consecutive year the two leaders have met — following Kazan (Russia) and Tianjin (China) .
EAM S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval were present at the talks.
Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said China would work with India to 'handle bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective.' India continues to stress that border peace and tranquillity is a prerequisite for broader ties post the 2020 Galwan clashes .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday, 12 September. The talks — the third consecutive annual meeting between the two leaders — came as India and China continue efforts to stabilise ties in the aftermath of the 2020 Galwan clashes.
What Modi told Xi at the start of talks
At the outset of the meeting, PM Modi thanked President Xi for China's support during India's BRICS chairship. 'I feel very happy in welcoming you. I thank you for your positive statement at the BRICS Summit. I express my gratitude for the support and cooperation received from China during India's BRICS chairship. We now have the opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation. Once again, a warm welcome to you in India,' Modi said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other senior officials were present during the bilateral.
The BRICS Summit backdrop
India, as BRICS Chair 2026, is hosting the two-day 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together leaders of member and partner countries alongside outreach invitees. Ahead of the summit's formal sessions, PM Modi shared a moment of warm camaraderie with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping — the three leaders were seen holding hands and exchanging smiles at the venue.
PM Modi also personally welcomed Xi and other BRICS leaders at a ceremony where the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram served as the backdrop. Modi was seen briefly explaining the significance of the temple setting to President Xi during the event.
Trajectory of Modi-Xi engagement
The New Delhi bilateral marks a continuing diplomatic rhythm between the two leaders. Modi and Xi had a brief interaction during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Before that, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin in August 2025, which itself followed their meeting in Kazan, Russia. This is the third straight year the two have met face to face — a pattern that signals a deliberate effort to keep the highest-level channel open despite unresolved border issues.
India has repeatedly underlined that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas remains a key prerequisite for the continued development of bilateral ties.
China's messaging ahead of the meeting
On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong posted on X that the meeting would build on the strategic guidance provided by both leaders. 'China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed,' Xu wrote.
Xi's arrival and reception in New Delhi
Earlier on Saturday, President Xi arrived in New Delhi to attend the summit. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada received him at the airport. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X: 'Warm welcome to President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit… We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and contribute to a more balanced, representative and multipolar world.'
The bilateral outcome — and any announcements on border management or trade facilitation — will be closely watched as a barometer of whether the India-China relationship is moving beyond stabilisation toward normalisation.
Point of View
But optics should not be confused with resolution. The Galwan wound — and the broader LAC trust deficit — has not been addressed by any public deliverable from these meetings so far. China's ambassador spoke of 'strategic height and long-term perspective,' a formulation Beijing has used before without binding commitments. India's real leverage lies in hosting the BRICS chair and controlling the multilateral narrative; whether that converts into concrete border-management frameworks or trade reciprocity will determine if this is genuine normalisation or diplomatic theatre on repeat.
NationPress
12 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did PM Modi and Xi Jinping meet at the BRICS Summit?
The bilateral meeting took place on Saturday, 12 September, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
How many times have Modi and Xi met in consecutive years?
This is the third consecutive year the two leaders have met face to face, following meetings in Kazan (Russia) and Tianjin (China) in previous years.
Why is the Modi-Xi meeting significant for India-China relations?
The meeting is significant because India and China are still working to stabilise ties after the deadly 2020 Galwan clashes. India has consistently stressed that border peace is a prerequisite for broader bilateral progress.
What did the Chinese Ambassador say ahead of the meeting?
Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said China would work with India to implement the strategic guidance of both leaders, step up communication, enhance cooperation, and properly handle differences.
Who received Xi Jinping at New Delhi airport?
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada received President Xi Jinping upon his arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit.
