Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit and was received by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada at the airport.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Warm welcome to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS @JitinPrasada at the airport. We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and contribute to a more balanced, representative and multipolar world.”
Xi was accorded a cultural welcome on his arrival, with dance performances presented by troupes from the Northeast and other parts of India.
Xi’s entourage includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, according to Chinese state media.
Xi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Ahead of the meeting, Wenting Xie, a journalist with China’s Global Times, said cooperation between India and China serves the interests of both countries and contributes to the development of the Global South.
“The visit is a very important opportunity to further improve bilateral ties between China and India. Both countries are major developing countries and important members of the Global South. I think China and India working together serves the interests of both people and contributes to the development of the Global South,” she said.
“China is ready to work together with India to strengthen communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be partners that help each other succeed. Both countries have huge potential for development and growth. I think cooperation between China and India serves the interests of the Global South, and that is what the Global South wants to see,” she added.
According to a Xinhua report, Xi is expected to advance proposals on Global South cooperation at the BRICS Summit, similar to his approach at the SCO Summit in Bishkek.
China will assume the rotating presidency of BRICS in 2027. The Global Times, in an editorial, said China would seek to strengthen the foundation for unity through genuine multilateralism, promote greater alignment of development strategies through cooperation platforms and build momentum for common development through the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative.
It said China would also seek to deliver outcomes in areas including the digital economy, green development, artificial intelligence, poverty reduction and agricultural development.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The theme reflects India’s focus on strengthening existing achievements and institutional effectiveness, with development, sustainability and innovation at the centre of the agenda.
India also seeks to reinforce BRICS as a constructive and solutions-oriented forum while highlighting the aspirations of the Global South.
(ANI Inputs)
