India will host leaders including the presidents of China, Russia and Iran for a BRICS summit on Saturday, with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as economic challenges, set to dominate talks among the 11-member group.
Russia's Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, are expected to arrive in New Delhi as early as Friday, with both due to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to meet Modi, according to Indian diplomatic sources, on the sidelines of the two-day meeting.
It will be Xi's first visit to India since 2019 and marks the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the rival neighbours, six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border.
Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been warming again recently, with flights, visas and high-level contacts gradually being restored.
