PM Modi met Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit

China asserted that the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS conference in South Africa occurred at India's behest. However, high-level officials from the Indian government contradicted this claim, stating that there had been an outstanding request for a bilateral meeting from the Chinese side.

The sources clarified that the two leaders did engage in an "informal conversation" at the Leaders Lounge within the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. The Chinese foreign ministry previously stated that "President Xi Jinping conversed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon the latter's request, on August 23, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit."

During the meeting, both leaders concurred on the necessity for a swift reduction of tensions along the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC), which has been a source of heightened strain since a clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. They also committed to instruct their respective officials to expedite disengagement efforts along the LAC.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, addressing reporters, explained that the interaction between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi took place in the context of the BRICS Summit. While the Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders, his conversation with President Xi centered on expressing India's concerns regarding unresolved matters along the LAC and other border regions between India and China.

According to a Chinese statement, the two leaders engaged in an open and thorough exchange of perspectives concerning current China-India relations and other mutual areas of interest. President Xi emphasized the significance of enhancing bilateral ties for the common benefit of both nations and peoples, as well as for global and regional peace, stability, and development. The statement conveyed Xi's view that the border issue should be managed with the overall interests of the bilateral relationship in mind, in order to jointly uphold tranquillity and serenity in the border region.