Xi Jinping Set for India BRICS Visit, But Will Tarique Rahman Come?

China’s Xi Jinping is likely to attend the September 12–13 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, while Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s participation remains uncertain amid strains in India-Bangladesh ties

Xi Visit Gains Momentum

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit India this month for the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking his first trip to the country since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13.

Reuters reported in August that Xi was likely to attend the meeting with a large Chinese delegation. Sources said preparations for hotels and security arrangements were already under way, although Beijing had not formally confirmed his travel plans at that stage.

Xi’s possible visit has attracted particular attention because India-China relations have gradually improved after years of military tensions along the Line of Actual Control.

Delhi-Beijing Thaw

The proposed visit comes against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Xi to attend the BRICS Summit during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin in August 2025. Xi had welcomed the invitation and offered China’s support for India’s BRICS presidency.

The two countries have since continued discussions on border management, trade and broader bilateral ties. However, the boundary dispute remains unresolved.

A Xi visit would therefore carry significance beyond the BRICS agenda and could provide an opportunity for the two leaders to assess the state of bilateral relations.

Tarique’s Visit Unclear

The situation is markedly different for Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

India has invited Rahman to attend the BRICS outreach session in his capacity as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC. New Delhi had also extended a separate invitation for a bilateral visit after he became prime minister in February.

However, Bangladesh has not yet confirmed whether Rahman will travel to New Delhi.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on September 4 that it had no specific update on Bangladesh’s participation in the BRICS Summit.

India-Bangladesh Tensions

Rahman’s potential visit has become more complicated because of unresolved political issues between New Delhi and Dhaka.

Relations have been strained following the political upheaval in Bangladesh and the continued presence of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in India. Dhaka has sought her return, while her activities from Indian territory have become a sensitive issue in bilateral diplomacy.

Diplomatic sources in Bangladesh previously indicated that Rahman’s India visit could depend partly on how New Delhi addresses concerns surrounding Hasina’s activities.

The uncertainty has persisted even as both governments maintain diplomatic communication.

Why BRICS Matters

For Bangladesh, participation in the BRICS outreach programme would provide an important diplomatic opportunity.

Rahman could meet Indian leadership as well as representatives of major emerging economies and regional organisations. The meeting could also offer New Delhi and Dhaka an opportunity to discuss bilateral concerns away from the immediate political friction surrounding Hasina.

Bangladesh’s invitation is linked to its position as the current BIMSTEC chair, and India has stressed that regional-group leaders are routinely invited to BRICS outreach sessions.

Xi-Rahman Contrast

The uncertainty over Rahman’s attendance stands in contrast to the growing expectation surrounding Xi’s India trip.

Xi’s participation would underline the importance both Beijing and New Delhi attach to BRICS despite their strategic differences. It could also create an opportunity for a Modi-Xi meeting on the sidelines.

For Bangladesh, however, the summit carries a different diplomatic calculation. Rahman’s presence could help reset ties with India, while staying away could signal continuing disagreements over unresolved bilateral issues.

What Happens Next

The immediate question is whether China formally confirms Xi’s travel plans and whether Bangladesh announces Rahman’s participation.

Reuters reported that Xi’s final itinerary and any bilateral meeting with Modi had yet to be finalised.

On the Bangladesh side, New Delhi’s latest position remains that it has no specific update on Dhaka’s participation.

If Xi attends, his visit would be closely watched as a potential marker of the India-China thaw after the Galwan-era tensions. If Rahman also travels to New Delhi, the BRICS outreach could become an important platform for India and Bangladesh to begin addressing their strained relationship at the highest political level.