PM Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping discuss 'range of issues'

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an informal meeting at a gathering of the leaders of BRICS nations on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Germany’s Hamburg. The two leaders had a conversation on a “range of issues”, according to external affairs ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay, in the meeting which came amid the standoff along the Sikkim border marked by war-mongering and ratcheting up of rhetoric by China. Modi and Xi met again on Friday evening at a concert.

ET had first reported that Modi and Xi would hold a pull-aside when they gather for the informal BRICS meet during the G20 Summit in the run-up to the forthcoming ninth BRICS Summit in September in Xiamen, China. The details of the conversation were not available and it was not immediately clear whether China would scale down hostilities in the near future.



In the informal meeting of BRICS leaders, though, Xi expressed appreciation for India’s strong resolve against terrorism, and the momentum in the grouping introduced under India’s chairmanship and through the outcomes of the Goa Summit in 2016. He also appreciated India’s success in economic and social development, and wished India even bigger success, according to a press statement.

Prime Minister Modi, too, expressed appreciation for momentum in BRICS under the chairmanship of President Xi and extended full cooperation for the forthcoming BRICS Summit at Xiamen. Modi and Xi had last met in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on June 9 in what was described as a “very good meeting”, where they said that bilateral differences should not lead to disputes.

At the informal BRICS meet, Modi said that the grouping (of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) has been a strong voice and needs to show leadership on terrorism and global economy. He stressed that G20 should collectively oppose terrorism financing, franchises, safe havens, support and sponsors.

Referring to reforms in India, including the recent introduction of goods and services tax, the PM said that it was necessary to work together for sustained global economic recovery. Modi advocated a collective voice against the practice of protectionism, especially in the spheres of trade and movement of knowledge and professionals. He reiterated India’s commitment to implementing Paris agreement in letter and spirit, and described its implementation globally as essential to fighting climate change.

He called for expeditious action to establish BRICS rating agency and stated that cooperation on development of Africa should be a priority. He also called for greater people-topeople exchanges.