Anticipation Builds for PM Modi's Potential Meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speculation surrounding the expansion of BRICS and China's efforts to turn it into a rival of the G7 have heightened anticipation for the summit.

There is a possibility that PM Modi will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the event. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra provided insights into PM Modi's schedule for the summit, stating that the details for bilateral meetings are still being developed. PM Modi will be accompanied by a business delegation to attend various meetings, including those of the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Business Forum.

If a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Xi Jinping does take place, it would be the first since the India-China standoff began in May 2020. The leaders briefly met in November last year at a dinner hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali.

Notably, this will be the first in-person BRICS Summit after three consecutive years of virtual interactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Modi is also scheduled to participate in a special event called "BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue" following the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the summit virtually, while the Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Following the conclusion of the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Greece for an official visit on August 25, upon the invitation of the Greek Prime Minister.

In related news, uncertainty remains over whether PM Modi and President Xi will have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. PM Modi will meet with various leaders, including those from Iran, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.

While a few bilateral meetings may also occur on Wednesday, no formal announcement has been made. The recent military talks between India and China failed to resolve the deadlock in eastern Ladakh. However, a joint statement released ahead of the BRICS and G20 summits has raised hopes of a bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi.

The leaders last had a fleeting conversation on the sidelines of the G20 Bali summit and agreed on the need to improve bilateral ties. The talks between local commanders of the Indian Army and Chinese PLA for confidence-building measures in eastern Ladakh's Depsang and Demchok are ongoing.

The border standoff between Indian and Chinese troops has been ongoing for over three years, with ongoing efforts to resolve the situation. The 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks took place recently, with positive and constructive discussions.