NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend next month's BRICS summit in New Delhi with a large delegation, three sources said, in what would be his first visit in seven years. India is hosting the September 12 to 13 summit, where Xi's presence would be watched less for the BRICS agenda than for what it signals about Beijing and New Delhi's efforts to stabilise relations. "Chinese officials are busy finalising hotels and security protocols," one of the Indian sources with direct knowledge said.
Two other Indian sources said Xi was likely to be accompanied by a delegation of about 400 officials, compared with fewer than 200 officials the last time in 2019. Officials from both countries are expected to use the summit to explore ways to expand engagement while managing long-standing differences over the border and regional security issues, the sources added.
India's foreign ministry said that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks on Tuesday. "Doval, India's Special Representative (SR) on the India-China Boundary Question, arrived in Beijing on a two-day visit earlier this afternoon," the ministry said. — Reuters
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