JOHANNESBURG: Amid the eagerly awaited BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has stirred curiosity by scheduling bilateral meetings with South Africa and engaging in multiple discussions on the sidelines. However, all eyes are on the possibility of a meeting between the two Asian giants, India and China, during this significant event.
On Tuesday, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi posted a photo of PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, revealing that the BRICS leaders would focus on global developments and employing the BRICS platform for resolving global challenges during their retreat. Yet, the prospect of a scheduled meeting between the Indian and Chinese leaders remains uncertain. Reports suggested that PM Modi was slated to meet with the leaders of Iran, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, leaving two undisclosed nations.
"During the Bali G20 Summit last year, Prime Minister and President Xi Jinping, after the dinner hosted by the Indonesian President, exchanged courtesies and spoke of the need to stabilize our bilateral relations," Bagchi said in a regular press conference.
"I think Foreign Secretary did mention maybe he didn't mention the second part of it. He did talk about exchanging courtesies and I think there was a general discussion or spoke of the need to stabilize our bilateral relationship or relations," he added.
In response to inquiries about a potential meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra offered an enigmatic reply, indicating that the Prime Minister's bilateral meeting schedule was still being finalized.
Notably, this potential bilateral meeting would mark their first direct interaction since the violent clash between the Indian Army and China's PLA in 2020, which led to the loss of at least 20 Indian soldiers.
Furthermore, Chinese President Xi Jinping surprised attendees by skipping the crucial BRICS Business Forum, where his Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, addressed the audience. Wang criticized "West's hegemony" and accused it of obstructing nations striving for rapid progress.
The 15th BRICS Summit brought together global leaders, including PM Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
While they exchanged courtesies and discussed stabilizing bilateral relations during the G20 Summit in Bali last year, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs initially labeled it a "welcome gesture." However, they later confirmed a discussion on border issues between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Bali Summit.
The anticipated meeting gains significance due to the 2020 Ladakh clash, which remains unresolved despite multiple engagements between commanders and defense ministers of both nations. Previous meetings, such as their interaction in Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram in 2019 and a bilateral session during the BRICS summit in Brasilia, didn't occur following the border clash.
Even their presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Uzbekistan last year didn't lead to a bilateral meeting. As the world watches, this potential meeting carries hopes for diplomatic strides between India and China.
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