Xi Jinping’s participation remains under watch as India prepares for high-level BRICS engagements
NEW DELHI ; GTNS | SEPTEMBER 10, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, with the proposed bilateral talks expected to bring India-Russia cooperation into sharp focus.
The meeting comes as New Delhi prepares for a series of high-level diplomatic engagements around the BRICS gathering. The discussions between Modi and Putin are expected to cover bilateral relations as well as areas of economic and strategic cooperation.
Trade, investment, energy and other areas of mutual interest are likely to remain important elements of the India-Russia dialogue. The two countries have maintained close diplomatic and economic ties over several decades, making any leadership-level interaction significant for the wider BRICS environment.
China’s decision awaited
Attention is also focused on Beijing, with China expected to provide clarity on President Xi Jinping’s participation in the summit.
If Xi attends, his presence would add further weight to the gathering and could create an opportunity for high-level discussions involving the leadership of the two Asian powers.
India and China are both important members of BRICS, and their engagement within the multilateral grouping is closely watched because of the wider regional and international implications.
BRICS moves beyond traditional diplomacy
The summit is taking place at a time when BRICS is becoming increasingly important as a platform for emerging economies. Its discussions are expected to extend beyond traditional diplomatic issues and include economic growth, investment, technology, climate action, energy security and development.
India has been highlighting the importance of making BRICS more focused on practical cooperation and shared developmental priorities.
Bilateral meetings to shape summit agenda
Alongside the main BRICS discussions, bilateral meetings are expected to provide leaders with opportunities to address country-specific priorities.
For New Delhi, the Modi-Putin meeting offers an important platform to assess the trajectory of India-Russia relations, while the possible participation of Xi could add another significant diplomatic dimension to the summit.
With major decisions and leadership engagements expected in the coming days, international attention is increasingly turning towards New Delhi as India prepares to host the BRICS gathering.
Global Times News | GTNS
September 10, 2026