Beijing. China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday dodged questions about a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia this week. “If anything comes to light, we will inform you,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said while replying to a question at a press conference here. Modi and Xi is attending.
Ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kazan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in New Delhi on Monday that negotiators from India and China have reached an agreement regarding patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. There is currently no response from Beijing on the agreement announced by Egypt. Relations between India and China had soured after the fierce clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020. This clash is being considered as the most serious military conflict between the two countries in the last several decades. China announced last Friday that Xi would attend the BRICS summit in Russia, where he will work with other parties to usher in a new era to achieve solidarity for the ‘Global South’.
Economically less developed countries or developing countries are usually referred to as the ‘Global South’. BRICS originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been included as new members. The theme of this year’s summit is “Strengthening multilateralism for equitable global development and security”.
Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Xi will participate in small-group and large-group meetings, the ‘BRICS Plus’ dialogue and also present his important views. He said Xi will also have in-depth exchanges with other leaders on the international scene, BRICS practical cooperation, development of the BRICS mechanism and important issues of mutual interest. “China is willing to work with other parties to make efforts for the sustainable development of cooperation among BRICS countries, so as to gain strength through solidarity for the Global South, and jointly promote world peace and development,” he said. A new era can be started for this.
