Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for bilateral engagements today on account of the 16th BRICS summit being held in Kazan, Russia. This is the first meeting of the two leaders in five years and is coming soon after India declared peace with China and agreed to re-establish patrols in the contested sectors in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) thus terminating a military standoff that lasted for four years.
The meeting is scheduled to take place after a formal dinner that was given by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin to all participants of the summit, where Modi and Xi interacted in a friendly manner. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has also stated that such talks are expected between Modi and Xi, before not revealing when they will take place.
As a result of the recent agreement with respect to the LAC, in the case of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, said that in fact, the current priority will be giving up the positions which will precede any processes of troops withdrawal and de-induction. He added that the patrolling and grazing rights of the contested areas will revert to the level of 2020.
This shift in foreign policy is welcomed but comes five years after India and China ignored each other for five solid years, the main reason for which was the issue of boundaries, particularly the Way claim which New Delhi accused Beijing of intruding into geographic regions of Ladakh for over one thousand square kilometers since May, 2020. Meanwhile, the Chinese side has also acknowledged the ceasefire saying that they will work with India to put these decisions into practice.
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The last formal exchange that one initiated with the other was also in 2019 during the summit in Mahabalipuram, while an informal cliffhanger occurred during the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg in August 2023. Past encounters involved a pleasant interaction during a G20 dinner where the Indonesian President was the host in November 2022.
Modi’s Engagements with Other Leaders
In Kazan, PM Modi also held face-to-face discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, respectively. In the course of his talks with President Putin, Modi made it known that India would like to help resolve the existing Russia-Ukraine crisis. Regarding relations with India, Putin referred to them as ‘straightened old partners’ saying that the ‘developed-sustained’ relations fit into this description.
Had a very good meeting with the President of Iran, Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian. We reviewed the full range of relations between our countries. We also discussed ways to deepen ties in futuristic sectors. @drpezeshkian pic.twitter.com/PQ4Ky3i8JK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 22, 2024While Pezeshkian’s presidency was discussed for the first time in the July 5 Memorandum, Modi offered, for the first time since then, an official visit to India. Modi informed of positive conversations on social economies and advanced technology and was consequently invited by Pezeshkian to visit India soon.
Thereby, it is proved once again that the meetings of the Heads of State and Government on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit carry an important diplomatic agenda, especially in the wake of recent developments in international relations.
Minutes by M31GlobalNews
