India, Sept. 10 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Xi would travel to India "at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi" to attend the summit.

The confirmation came just days before the summit, after Beijing had initially refrained from confirming whether Xi would travel to India.

The subsequent confirmation of Xi's visit has now ended speculation over China's representation at the summit.

Xi's visit will be his first trip to India in seven years and is expected to draw considerable attention amid efforts by New Delhi and Beijing ...