The announcement came just a week after India's recently elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tokyo pledging to take ties to a "new level", a move seen as an attempt to shore up regional alliances to counter China's increasing might.
Xi's four-nation trip begins this Thursday in the central Asian state of Tajikistan, before going on to the South Asian island states of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, culminating in India, the Chinese foreign ministry said on its website.
It did not give specific dates but said the tour would finish on September 19. The president was also scheduled to visit Pakistan, however, the trip has been delayed due to the ongoing protests in Islamabad.
Ties between India and China have long been clouded by suspicion over disputed territory in the Himalayas, which saw a brief border war in 1962.
Chinese troops last month advanced into disputed territory claimed by India, official sources said, raising tensions after a similar incident the previous year.
China is India's biggest trading partner, with two-way commerce totalling close to $70 billion. But India's trade deficit with China has soared to over $40 billion from just $1 billion in 2001-02, Indian figures show.
New Delhi's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Monday that India expected "substantial" results from Xi's maiden visit.
Beijing sent its foreign minister Wang Yi to Delhi in June soon after right-wing Modi's landslide election victory, delivering a message that India and China were "natural partners".
After meeting Xi at a summit of the BRICS emerging economic powers in Brazil in July, Modi called for increased Chinese investment in India.
COMMENTS (22)
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My comment was a reply to the previous comments. Indians find their existance to be the sole authority of South Asia which need to be changed. What is happening in both territories is hidden to no-one. We have our laws and we asked no-one for your opinion on that. It would be better if we concentrate on our personal matters. It has always been Indian traditional to speak in the matters of others, you have a higher literacy rate then you shoud prove it with your actions rather then words.
@Momin Iqbal: You speak with such authority on rape as if pakistan is a stranger to it. India has a problem with rapes, every indian will agree to that, we have nation wide campaigns against it. We have changed laws for it and we are prosecuting rapists at a much faster rate now. But for most pakistanis rapes dont happen in pakistan and even if they do it is acceptable as long as they happen in india. Not only are women raped in your country but street boys as young as 10 are raped too and there is no law to protect them, women need 4 witnesses and are often blamed for the incident. Police investigates and say the rape never happened. This is the state of affairs in pakistan so please along with all the mess that your country is in sort that out too instead of living in denial.
People are misunderstanding the situation here. IK has convinced China’s President Xi Jinping to postpone his visit to Pakistan till it turns "Naya".
China considers Pakistan as one of its provinces so the visit will take place at former's convenience. So just relax and don't get agitated on such minor issues.
We need to focus on our internal matters. It is none of our concern who visits India. And well it is a shame to see Indians reacting like this. We know what we Pakistanis deserve, it would be much better if Indians use their minds to stop the raping incidents happening within their territory which we read about every day.
@PrasadDeccani: Because Pakistani's deserve it that is why NTS made that remark.
Million $ question is, will China open up its market for direct investment from Indian pharma companies. So far China has been successful in dodging it no matter how much pressure India is exerting. Probably India should use point out huge trade deficit in order to force China open up.
@NITS: May I know why you had make such a nasty remark about Pakistanis? Absolutely uncalled-for remark.
It shows that PML N government is going to be down soon.....
Nation will get nothing out of this loan. Only it would go into the pockets of corrupt politicians in the parliament.
PTI supporteres; Admit it that IK is an amature liar . He calls one day to Chinese emabassy to assure them PTI support and next day say that the visit was never palnned. Of course it wasnt offically which is done one week early. The scurioty team came to give the vsisit finishing touches but what they saw was the lathi bearing dharna comrades attacking paliament and PM house. How could he come. But my main issue is IK lying and beleiving Mubasharr Luqman. Come on ; respond.
@Shafaq: Yes, he may come attend Imran's wedding
The Chinese will have to make choices soon. India will continue to befriend nations like Japan, Vietnam and others who have a dispute with China. We will support Tibet and will not agree to the one China policy. India will be the number 3 economy in the world and is a rising power. It is up to China to side with Pakistan and invest in Pakistan. Indians do not need the Chinese because we have enough friendly countries on our side who also have disputes with China. China is an aggressive colonial power and the world is uniting to keep it in check.
The Nation will never forgive or forget the dis-service Mr Imran Khan and Mr Qadri (and the scriptwriter(s) have done by staging "Dharna" which lead to postponement of the visit of Chinese President.
The repercussions will be felt for years.
Wow, this newspaper has some inflated sense of Pakistan. The AFP headline is "China's President Xi to visit India next week".
The headline is changed to somehow give the impressiion that India China relation is Pakistan centric. It's mostly economic and boundary related.
http://www.afp.com/en/node/2813833
Nothing to worry, Xi Jinping will come to Pakistan, when he finds some time.
I think he is willing to visit in Naya Pakistan :)
No one wants to meet you Nawaz. Have some shame and resign.
Thanks Imran Khan for this greatest service to the nation.
China will not change the fact that Pakistan has to pay in excess of 8 percent on the Eurobond issue earlier this year.
Go NAWAZ Go!
His visits aims at the Focal point of the business/ power in south asia i.e. India... rest are all buffers (Mal, SL) / beggars (Pak) !