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 10:03 AM GMT
Message should be that BRICS is a public interest group: Modi at plenary session
At the Closed Plenary Session of the 16th BRICS Summit, PM Narendra Modi says, “We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war. And, just as we together defeated a challenge like COVID, in the same way, we are fully capable of creating new opportunities for a safe, strong, and prosperous future for the future generations...Similarly, we should work for global regulations for cyber security, safe and secure AI….
“Our meeting is taking place at a time when the world is surrounded by many challenges like wars, conflicts, economic uncertainty, climate change, terrorism. There is talk of North-South and East-West divide in the world...And, in the age of technology, new challenges like cyber security, deep fake, disinformation have emerged. In such a situation, there are many expectations from BRICS. I believe that as a diverse and inclusive platform, BRICS can play a positive role on all issues. In this context, our approach should remain people-centric. We should give the message to the world that BRICS is not a divisive but a public interest group….
“We all have to be united and cooperate strongly to deal with terrorism and terror financing. There is no place for double standards on such a serious issue. We should take active steps to prevent radicalization among the youth of our countries. We have to work together on the pending issue of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN….
“India is ready to welcome new countries as BRICS Partner Country. All decisions in this regard should be made unanimously and the views of the founding members of BRICS should be respected. The guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures that we adopted at the Johannesburg Summit should be followed by all member and partner countries...We should move forward in a timely manner for reforms in global institutions like UN Security Council, Multilateral Development Banks, WTO. While taking forward the efforts of BRICS, we should keep in mind that the image of this organisation should not be such that we do not want to reform global institutions but want to replace them...” - 23 Oct 2024 9:58 AM GMT
India ready to welcome new nations, says PM Modi
India is ready to welcome new nations into BRICS, says PM Modi
- 23 Oct 2024 7:59 AM GMT
PM Narendra Modi arrives at Kazan Expo Center
#WATCH | Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kazan Expo Center for BRICS Summit.
— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2024
(Video: DD News) pic.twitter.com/9Es2o4xd2p - 23 Oct 2024 3:22 AM GMT
PM Modi witnesses exhibition on Gandhi in Kazan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday witnessed an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi, which was put up on the occasion of his visit to Kazan.
Modi arrived in this central Russian city to attend the 16th BRICS summit.
"PM @narendramodi witnessed an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi put up on the occasion of his visit to Kazan. The exhibition, among other things, highlighted the Mahatma’s engagement with Leo Tolstoy. The exhibition bears special significance as Leo Tolstoy lived and studied in Kazan for several years," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.
Count Leo Tolstoy, a Russian noble, and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi were the two greatest leaders who preached non-violence, universal love, concern for the weakest, a moral stance in whatever we do, and a non-violent resolution of conflicts among individuals, and groups, as well as nations.
Gandhi was inspired by Tolstoy not only in respect of non-violence and non-violent resistance but also by his idea of 'Bread Labour' and its concomitant idea of 'getting off the backs' of others including the poor, according to an Astha Bharati quarterly journal "Dialogue".
He developed Tolstoy's theory of 'Bread Labour' into a full-fledged theory of the duty and right to work.
