• By Abhirupa Kundu
  • Thu, 24 Aug 2023 02:33 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit was seen holding a brief conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a press conference held in South Africa's Johannesburg. PM Modi and Xi were photographed together having an exchange before they took their designated seats.

Significantly, during the G20 dinner hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali Indonesia in November 2022, PM Modi had chanced upon Xi and the duo exchanged pleasantries. This was the first time they exchanged a handshake after the standoff between China's People's Liberation Army and the Indian Forces in eastern Ladakh in April 2020. 

Since three years the ties between India and China has been strained owing to the tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 

The two sides have held around 19 rounds of talks so far to address the boundary issues in eastern Ladakh prevailing since 2020, post the Chinese aggression. 

PM Modi arrived in South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit on Tuesday.

The opening day of the summit in Johannesburg was witness to the BRICS Business Forum Leaders Dialogue.

In his address at the BRICS Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue, PM Modi said India will soon be a 5 trillion dollar economy and in the coming years will be the growth engine of the world.

PM Modi’s special message to the dialogue was that mutual trust and transparency can help create a big impact, especially in the Global South. This is the first in-person BRICS Summit after three consecutive years of virtual meetings owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Later on, on the second day, at the open plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit, PM Modi said India had given a lot of importance to the countries of Global South under its G20 Presidency and lauded South Africa for the initiative as the chair of the BRICS summit.

(With inputs from ANI)

Also In News