Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India after seven years to attend the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12 and 13. India and China have begun preparations for the visit, with Chinese officials working on finalising hotel arrangements and security protocols, according to an official linked to the summit’s organising committee.

Xi last visited New Delhi in 2019, also for a BRICS summit, accompanied by about 200 officials. This time, his delegation is expected to include about 400 officials. Relations between India and China deteriorated significantly after a severe border clash between their soldiers in Ladakh in June 2020.

The source says ties have shown some renewed warmth in recent times. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Beijing last year, his first China trip since 2018, and diplomatic contacts between New Delhi and Beijing have increased since then. Xi’s planned India visit is being viewed as an important next step in the recent progress in bilateral relations.