India and China: A Cautious Step Towards Better Ties at BRICS Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India for a BRICS summit this Saturday. This visit could be a big step towards improving relations between the two powerful countries. It will be President Xi’s first trip to India since October 2019. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China in August 2025.
The relationship between India and China has slowly improved since a deadly border clash in 2020. This fight happened in the Himalayan region. Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers died in that incident. Flights, some visas, and high-level talks have now restarted.
However, deep mistrust remains. They still have a disagreement over their border in the Himalayas. India also faces a large trade deficit with China. Both countries are also strategic rivals, which makes their relationship harder. The Dalai Lama, a Tibetan spiritual leader, lives in India, which Beijing dislikes.
China is now India’s largest trading partner. Trade in goods reached $151 billion in the 2025-26 financial year. But this trade heavily favors China. India imported $131 billion worth of goods from China. India only exported $19 billion. This left a record trade deficit of $112 billion for India.
India’s government wants to make more goods at home. It aims to reduce its reliance on China for machinery and electronics. However, experts like Wu Xinbo from Shanghai’s Fudan University say India needs China’s technology. China also wants to increase trade, even though India complains about the imbalance.
Both India and China are members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Some experts believe President Xi’s main reason for visiting is to strengthen BRICS. This group offers an alternative to institutions led by the United States.
Still, India and China are also competitors. India’s security partnership with the United States, including the Quad alliance, worries Beijing. New Delhi is concerned about China’s close ties with Pakistan, India’s rival.
Despite recent positive signs, analysts remain careful. Ashok Malik from The Asia Group said President Xi’s visit shows both countries want a working relationship. Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation believes the relationship is stabilizing. But he said there is no dramatic change yet. He also noted that deep mistrust between the two countries remains.
