BRICS Summit Live | Modi, Xi endorse LAC pact, okay resumption of bilateral talks
Modi and Xi instructed the special representatives to meet at an early date and continue their efforts
In their much-anticipated first structured bilateral talks in nearly five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday (October 23) agreed that India and China can have a “peaceful and stable” relationship by displaying maturity and mutual respect.
The leaders endorsed the pact on the resolution of the dragging eastern Ladakh border row and noted that the special representatives on the India-China boundary question have a critical role to play in the resolution of the issue and for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas.
In the meeting held on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia’s Kazan, Modi underscored the need to not allow differences on boundary-related matters to disturb peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Modi and Xi instructed the special representatives to meet at an early date and continue their efforts, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing. “We hope to schedule the next meeting of Special Representatives at an appropriate date,” he said.
Officials will now take the next steps to discuss enhancing strategic communication and stabilising bilateral relations by utilising official dialogue mechanisms, he said.
Modi renews call for dialogue and diplomacy
In his address at the 16th BRICS Summit, Modi on Wednesday renewed his call for dialogue and diplomacy as being the only way forward to resolve conflicts, in an unambiguous message to press for the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war through peaceful negotiations.
Modi also said the grouping must give the world a message that it is not a divisive organisation, but one that works in the interest of humanity. The prime minister flagged concerns over pressing challenges such as wars, economic uncertainty, climate change and terrorism and said the BRICS can play a positive role to take the world in the right path.
“I believe that as a diverse and inclusive platform, BRICS can play a positive role in all areas,” he said.
“We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war. And just as we were able to overcome a challenge like COVID together, we are certainly able to create new opportunities to ensure a secure, strong and prosperous future for future generations,” he said.
Modi assures support to Putin
During bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (October 22), Modi assured him to provide all possible cooperation to find a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He also apprised Putin about his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Indian side also pressed Russia for early discharge of the remaining Indian nationals recruited as support staff in the Russian military.
In his televised opening remarks, the prime minister conveyed to the Russian leader that New Delhi “fully supports” the early return of peace and stability in the region.
Modi also said that his second visit to Russia in the last three months reflected “close” coordination and “deep trust” between the two countries.
India’s role in de-escalating conflict in West Asia
On the first day of the summit, Modi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who emphasised the need for peace in West Asia and the role that India could play in de-escalating the conflict given its good relations with all the parties, amid heightened tension between Iran and Israel.
The two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas, including Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
“Had a very good meeting with the President of Iran, Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian. We reviewed the full range of relations between our countries. We also discussed ways to deepen ties in futuristic sectors,” Modi wrote on X
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Live Updates
- 23 Oct 2024 1:07 PM GMT
It’s important for both sides to have more communication, cooperation: Xi
During the bilateral meeting with PM Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping says, “It’s my great pleasure to meet you in Kazan. It’s the first time for us to have a formal meeting in five years. Both the people in our two countries and the international community are paying great attention to our meeting. China and India are both ancient civilisations, major developing countries, and important members of the Global South. We are both at a crucial phase in our respective modernization endeavours. It best serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples...”
Modi says, “We are having a formal meeting after five years. We believe that the India-China relationship is very important, not only for our people but also for global peace, stability and progress. We welcome the consensus reached on the issues that have arisen in the past four years on the border. Maintaining peace and stability on the border should remain our priority. Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of our relations.”
Xi says, “...It’s important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, properly handle our differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations. It’s also important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of developing countries and to contribute to promoting multi-polarization and democracy in international relations.”
- 23 Oct 2024 12:14 PM GMT
Modi-Xi session at BRICS underway
The much-awaited talks have begun.
PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding their first formal talks in five years signalling a thaw in ties ties between two Asian giants.
- 23 Oct 2024 11:21 AM GMT
Candid moments from BRICS Summit
PM Narendra Modi with UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the 16th BRICS Summit, in Kazan, on Wednesday | PTI
PM Narendra Modi shares a light moment with President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping during a concert ahead of an informal dinner for the heads of BRICS delegations held as part of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan on Tuesday | PTI
- 23 Oct 2024 10:58 AM GMT
India fully committed to increasing cooperation under BRICS: Modi at summit
At the 16th BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “In its new form, BRICS is an economy bigger than 30 trillion dollars. BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance have played a special role in increasing our economic cooperation. The consensus reached within BRICS this year on WTO reforms, trade facilitation in agriculture, resilience supply chains, e-commerce and special economic zones will strengthen our economic cooperation. Among all these initiatives, we should also focus on the interests of small and medium-scale industries. I am happy that the BRICS Startup Forum proposed during India’s chairmanship in 2021 will be launched this year. The Railway Research Network initiative given by India is also playing an important role in increasing logistics and supply chain connectivity between BRICS countries…
“I want to thank President Putin for the successful organisation of the 16th BRICS Summit. I once again heartily welcome the new colleagues associated with BRICS. In its new form, BRICS represents 40% of the world’s humanity and about 30% of the economy. BRICS has achieved many things in the last two decades. I am confident that in the coming times, this organisation will emerge as a more effective medium to face global challenges. I congratulate Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank. In the past 10 years, this bank has been emerging as an important option for the development of the countries of the Global South. The opening of GIFT City in India has strengthened the activities of this bank... NDB should continue to work on the demand-driven principle and while expanding the bank, priority should be given to ensuring long-term financial sustainable, healthy credit rating and market access…
“Special emphasis is being laid on infrastructure in all the BRICS countries. To rapidly increase multimodal connectivity in India, we have created the Gatishakti portal. This has helped in integrated planning and implementation of these developments and has reduced logistics costs. We will be happy to share our experiences with all of you. We welcome efforts to increase financial integration among BRICS countries. Trading in local currency and easy cross-border payments will strengthen our economic cooperation. The Unified Payment Interface (UPI) created by India is a big success story of India. It has been adopted in many countries. Last year, we also launched it in UAE in collaboration with Sheikh Mohammed. Cooperation can be done in this with other foreign countries as well…
“The BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre launched in 2022 is helping in enhancing the health security of all countries. We will be happy to share India’s successful experience in digital health with BRICS partners. Climate change has been a matter of our common priority. BRICS welcomes the consensus reached for Open Carbon Market Partnership under the chairmanship of Russia. In India too, special emphasis is being laid on green growth, climate-resilient infrastructure and green transition. Initiatives like International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ have been taken. Last year during COP 28, we started an important initiative like Green Credits. I invite BRICS partners to join these initiatives…
“India is fully committed to increasing cooperation under the BRICS. Our belief in our diversity and multipolarity is our strength. This strength of ours and our shared belief in humanity will help in giving a meaningful shape to the prosperous and strong future of our future generations. I extend my heartfelt best wishes to Brazil President Lula as the next President of the BRICS. India will give its full support to you for the success of your BRICS presidency...”
- 23 Oct 2024 10:25 AM GMT
We need to build a peaceful BRICS: Xi Jinping at plenary session
Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the plenary session of the BRICS summit that the need of the hour was to build a peaceful BRICS. “The world has entered a new period of turbulent change. We need to build a peaceful BRICS, be the guardian of common security,” Xi said, according to Reuters.
On Gaza and Lebanon crises, he said, “We need to push for a ceasefire”, while on the Ukraine crisis, he said, “We need to push for the situation to de-escalate as soon as possible”, reported Reuters.
“We should deepen financial and economic cooperation. We need to enhance the presentation and voice of Global South countries,” Xi reportedly said.He reportedly added that China was willing to expand green industry, clean energy and green mineral cooperation with BRICS countries. The country will set up 10 overseas study centres in BRICS countries over the next five years, reported Reuters.
