The 39-year-old former world number one secured a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) victory over the Portuguese player, extending his unbeaten record in Beijing to 30 consecutive matches. Djokovic has not competed at the China Open since 2015, but his remarkable record at the tournament remains intact.
The Serbian star has not played at his best since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July. He revealed in August that he has been dealing with an underlying health condition for the past couple of years, which causes particular difficulties in hot and humid conditions.
Those issues appeared to affect him during his match against Borges. Djokovic struggled during the second set and was seen using his racquet to stretch his back between games. He also required a medical timeout during the match to receive treatment on his right shoulder.
Despite those challenges, Djokovic managed to maintain his composure and close out the contest in one hour and 50 minutes.
The victory sends him into the second round, where he will meet Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete. Djokovic is competing at the China Open for the first time in 11 years as he looks to claim the title for a record-extending seventh time.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has enjoyed considerable success at the tournament throughout his career, and his latest victory keeps his hopes of another title alive.
Elsewhere, Great Britain's Katie Boulter also advanced to the second round of the women's singles draw.
The 30-year-old defeated Japan's Mai Hontama in straight sets, winning 6-3 6-4 to secure her place in the next round.
Boulter will face a considerably tougher challenge in her next match when she takes on Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova.
Djokovic's victory marks an important return to winning ways after his recent run without a match win. While his performance against Borges was not without difficulties, he managed to overcome the physical challenges and secure his place in the next round of the Beijing tournament.
