Xi visits India for BRICS summit, first trip since 2019 as ties thaw

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India for the BRICS summit, his first since 2019, confirms a deliberate effort by Beijing and New Delhi to reset bilateral relations. Xi and Indian PM Modi held a bilateral meeting, signaling a cautious thaw in ties after years of border tensions, though concrete agreements remain unspecified. The durability of this rapprochement and specific outcomes on border resolution and trade are uncertain.

The BRICS summit in New Delhi is characterized by a significant thaw in India-China relations, marked by Xi Jinping's first visit since 2019 and bilateral meetings with PM Modi to address border disputes and boost trade. Concurrently, the bloc is consolidating efforts to counter US influence through de-dollarization and expansion, with Russia deepening economic ties with India. Confidence in these developments is Medium-High, though concrete outcomes on border agreements and de-dollarization remain uncertain.