World · Asia
Modi and Xi Meet in India as China and India Push for Trade Reset and Border Stability
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met in New Delhi during the BRICS summit, signaling another step toward repairing relations between Asia's two largest countries after years of border tensions.
YuToday Staff
· 1 min read · September 12, 2026
Key takeaways
- Xi Jinping's trip marks his first visit to India in seven years and comes during the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
- His meeting with Narendra Modi is being closely watched because relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors deteriorated sharply following border clashes in 2020.
- India and China recorded approximately $155.6 billion in bilateral trade in 2025.
Xi Returns to India After Seven Years
Xi Jinping's trip marks his first visit to India in seven years and comes during the BRICS summit in New Delhi. His meeting with Narendra Modi is being closely watched because relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors deteriorated sharply following border clashes in 2020.
Trade Is Back at the Center of the Relationship
India and China recorded approximately $155.6 billion in bilateral trade in 2025. India imported roughly $132 billion from China, leaving New Delhi with a trade deficit exceeding $100 billion.
India Wants Better Market Access
The two sides discussed structural trade imbalances, supply-chain problems and market-access concerns. India has long pushed China to provide greater access for Indian products while attempting to reduce reliance on Chinese industrial imports.
Border Tensions Have Not Completely Disappeared
Although tensions have eased since the deadly 2020 Himalayan confrontation, substantial military deployments remain along the roughly 3,800-kilometer disputed frontier. Modi reiterated that stability at the border is essential for broader improvements in bilateral relations.
Why the Meeting Matters
A sustained improvement between India and China could affect global manufacturing, trade, investment and the balance of power inside BRICS. Both governments are signaling that economic cooperation may be possible even while difficult strategic disputes remain unresolved.