Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have talks today during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. This is their first formal meeting in five years and comes just two days after India announced a truce with China to resume patrolling in disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, ending a four-year military standoff.
The meeting is scheduled for around 4:10 pm to 5:10 pm IST. PM Modi and Xi Jinping previously met at a formal dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for all BRICS leaders.
At a press conference in Kazan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the meeting but did not specify the timing. He also discussed the agreement to resume patrolling at the remaining friction points along the LAC, where tensions have existed since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. Misri stated that the immediate focus is on disengagement, and later, they will address troop de-escalation.
He explained that patrolling and grazing activities will return to how they were in 2020 in areas still under discussion. This diplomatic progress comes five years after tensions escalated between India and China, with New Delhi accusing Beijing of occupying about 1,000 sq km of Indian territory in Ladakh since May 2020.
The Chinese government confirmed the border truce shortly after the Foreign Secretary's announcement, stating that a resolution was reached on "relevant matters" and that it will work with India to implement these resolutions.
The last formal meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping occurred in 2019 in Mahabalipuram. They also had a brief, informal conversation in August 2023 during the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg and exchanged pleasantries at a G20 dinner hosted by the Indonesian President in November 2022.
PM MODI'S MEETINGS WITH PUTIN, IRANIAN PRESIDENT
After arriving in Kazan on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
During his meeting with Putin, PM Modi promised India’s support for a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine war. He mentioned his two visits to Russia in the last three months, highlighting the close friendship between the two countries. Putin remarked that India-Russia relations are "specially privileged" and are developing well. There was a light moment when Putin joked that PM Modi would understand him without translation due to their strong ties.
The meeting with the Iranian leader was the first since Pezeshkian took office in July, following the death of his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash earlier this year. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in important areas, such as Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor.
PM Modi tweeted about the positive meeting, saying, "Had a very good meeting with President of Iran, Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian. We reviewed our relations and discussed ways to deepen ties in future sectors." Pezeshkian recognized India's role in Iran joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS and mentioned how India could help ease the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He also accepted PM Modi's invitation to visit India soon.
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