Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a significant bilateral meeting today in New Delhi, taking place on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit. The high-level discussions occurred shortly after the BRICS grouping successfully adopted a joint declaration, following extensive back-channel negotiations.
India's BRICS Chairmanship and Bilateral Cooperation
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to China for its support and cooperation throughout India's BRICS chairmanship. He extended a warm welcome to President Xi for the bilateral talks in the Indian capital.
"I express my gratitude for the support and cooperation received from China during India's BRICS chairmanship. We now have the opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation. Once again, a warm welcome to India," PM Modi stated.
The summit, hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam, is scheduled for September 12 and 13. India, as the current BRICS chair, has been championing key issues such as trade, investment, energy, food security, and enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South.
Call for Greater BRICS Collaboration
President Xi Jinping, for his part, urged both China and India to collaborate closely for the "high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation." His remarks underscored the importance of the two nations working together to advance the bloc's agenda and influence.
The Modi-Xi meeting is a pivotal moment as BRICS leaders engage in broader discussions on critical global economic and geopolitical issues, shaping the future priorities and direction of the influential grouping.