September 10, 2026, New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12. If confirmed, the meeting would be their first face-to-face bilateral engagement since the deadly Galwan Valley confrontation in 2020. The proposed meeting comes as India and China attempt to stabilise ties after years of military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), diplomatic strain and limited economic engagement. Key Highlights PM Modi and Xi Jinping are likely to meet on September 12. The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. It would be their first bilateral meeting since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Xi Jinping is set to visit India for the first time in seven years. India and China have been working towards easing border tensions. NSA Ajit Doval recently held senior-level talks in China ahead of Xi's visit. Xi Jinping to Arrive in Delhi on September 12 Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday for the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, which India will host on September 12 and 13. The visit would mark Xi's first trip to India in seven years and his first visit since the 2020 India-China border crisis. However, the proposed bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi has not yet received formal confirmation from either New Delhi or Beijing. A meeting between the two leaders would nevertheless carry considerable diplomatic significance given the recent efforts to improve relations. Modi and Xi's First Bilateral Meeting Since Galwan The proposed Modi-Xi meeting is being closely watched because of the backdrop of the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which severely damaged India-China relations. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of Indian and Chinese soldiers and was followed by a prolonged military standoff along the LAC. Since then, both countries have maintained large military deployments in sensitive border areas while diplomatic and military-level talks continued. The recent easing of tensions has created an opportunity for both sides to gradually rebuild dialogue. India-China Ties Show Signs of Easing India and China have taken several diplomatic steps aimed at reducing tensions along the border. The two leaders recently appeared at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where they shook hands but did not hold a formal bilateral meeting. A possible meeting in New Delhi could therefore provide an important platform for Modi and Xi to discuss the border situation and broader bilateral relations. Diplomatic Push Intensifies Ahead of Xi's Visit India's diplomatic engagement with China has also increased ahead of Xi Jinping's visit. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval recently travelled to China for senior-level discussions, signalling New Delhi's efforts to maintain communication with Beijing. The talks are particularly significant as India seeks to consolidate the tentative improvement in relations while protecting its strategic interests along the LAC.(READ MORE : BRICS Summit 2026: Why Modi-Putin Talks Matter for Russia-Ukraine Peace Efforts) What Could the Modi-Xi Meeting Mean for India? If the meeting takes place, border stability is expected to remain one of the most important issues for India. The two sides could also discuss trade, economic engagement, connectivity and broader regional developments. For New Delhi, improving ties with Beijing could reduce the pressure created by prolonged military deployments along the border. At the same time, India is likely to continue seeking clarity and stability on the LAC before relations can return fully to normal. The meeting could also have wider significance because it would take place during India's BRICS presidency and at a time of major shifts in global geopolitics. Latest Update PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to hold a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on September 12, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. However, official confirmation is still awaited. If held, the meeting would be an important step in India-China diplomacy and the first bilateral engagement between Modi and Xi since the 2020 Galwan Valley confrontation.
