India and China have pledged to support each other in hosting the BRICS summits in 2026 and 2027, respectively, signaling a potential improvement in relations that have been strained since the Galwan clashes in 2020. This agreement followed a two-day visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The discussions between the two countries covered a range of critical issues, including border stability, counter-terrorism efforts, trade, and regional matters. Both sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining peace along the border to foster the overall development of their bilateral relationship. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation regarding trans-border rivers, with China committing to share hydrological data during emergencies.
India has reaffirmed its support for China's upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, while China has welcomed India's hosting of the 2026 BRICS Summit. In turn, India will support China's hosting of the 2027 BRICS Summit. This mutual support for major diplomatic events underscores a commitment to multilateralism and cooperation on the global stage.
Prime Minister Modi has stated that India aims to give a "new form" to the BRICS grouping in 2026, prioritizing the Global South and adopting a "people-centricity and humanity first" approach. The focus will be on "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability". India's chairmanship will provide a unique opportunity to shape the agenda of the rapidly expanding group, which is becoming a key player in global diplomacy.
The BRICS summit is an annual event where leaders of member countries meet to discuss various issues. The first BRICS summit was held in 2009. Originally, the BRICS consisted of Brazil, Russia, India and China. In 2010, South Africa joined the organization. In 2023, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates were invited to join.
The collaboration extends beyond the BRICS summits, with both countries agreeing to resume official bilateral dialogues and exchanges, including the Third Meeting of the India-China High-level Mechanism on People-to-People Exchanges in India in 2026. They will also continue to support each other in holding events in 2025 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China.
To facilitate people-to-people exchanges, India and China have agreed to resume direct flight connectivity and facilitate visas for tourists, businesses, media, and other visitors. Additionally, India has agreed to continue and further expand the scale of the Indian pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash/Gang Renpoche and Lake Manasarovar/Mapam Yun Tso in Tibet Autonomous Region of China starting in 2026.
Both sides have expressed a commitment to uphold multilateralism, enhance communication on major international and regional issues, maintain a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and promote a multipolar world that safeguards the interests of developing countries. They also agreed to facilitate trade and investment flows between the two countries through concrete measures and to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas through friendly consultations.
This recent cooperation between India and China on the BRICS summits and other areas signals a potential effort to stabilize and improve their relationship.
