Xi Jinping’s Red-Carpet Welcome in India Signals Thaw as BRICS Summit Concludes
Chinese President Xi Jinping received a red-carpet welcome in India for the BRICS summit, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. The event, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighted a thaw in relations following the deadly 2020 Himalayan border clash. Despite internal fractures within the expanded 11-member bloc, leaders unanimously agreed on a joint declaration calling for peaceful dispute resolution and restraint in the Middle East.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in India for the BRICS summit with a red-carpet welcome, including an honour guard of Indian soldiers and traditional dancers. This visit marks Mr. Xi's first trip to India in seven years and signals a significant thaw in bilateral relations following the deadly military clash along the disputed Himalayan border in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
The two-day summit was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prior to or during the summit events. On Friday, China's foreign ministry stated that Beijing was willing to work with New Delhi to manage differences and be good neighbours, reflecting the broader diplomatic context of the meeting.
The gathering took place against a backdrop of internal tensions within the expanded BRICS bloc. Since its inception in 2009, the group has grown to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, totaling 11 members who now account for half of the global population. However, unity has been strained; earlier this year, Iran bombed Saudi Arabia and the UAE, contributing to disunity. Additionally, BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in Delhi in May.
Despite these fractures, the leaders unanimously agreed on a joint declaration on Saturday. The "New Delhi declaration" reiterated a commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy. It called for maximum restraint in the Middle East but did not explicitly name member countries involved in conflicts.
Jiang Shixue, vice-president of the expert committee of the Council for BRICs cooperation (China), noted that the 11 members cannot speak with one voice on many issues. The summit also highlighted competing geopolitical visions: China seeks to expand BRICS power as a counterweight to US dominance under Donald Trump's leadership, while India takes a more cautious approach, viewing the bloc as a bridge between the West and the developing world.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the talks on Saturday, stating that BRICS is "not against anyone." Chietigj Bajpaee from Chatham House observed that India finds it hard to maintain strategic hedging in a forum with overtly anti-western agendas.