New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit could lead to a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India and China are in talks to hold a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the summit, which is being held in the national capital on September 12 and 13.
After Beijing officially confirmed Xi’s participation in the summit, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong hinted in a post on X that such a meeting could take place. If it happens, it would be the third consecutive year that Modi and Xi have met in person. Their previous meetings were held on the sidelines of major multilateral gatherings in Kazan, Russia, and Tianjin, China. The interaction came after Modi invited him to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Xi’s visit on Thursday (September 10). There was a brief interaction between the two leaders at the SCO Summit in Bishkek on September 1.
Xu said Beijing wants to build a constructive relationship with New Delhi and follow the direction set by the two countries’ top leaders. “China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences and be friends enjoying good-neighborliness and partners helping each other succeed,” the envoy wrote. It said the president will travel to India at PM Modi’s invitation to attend the BRICS Summit. “At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13,” the statement said. He thanked the prime minister for the invitation and said China would support India’s BRICS presidency.
They shook hands before the group photograph, with Russian President Vladimir Putin also joining them.
