BRICS Summit 2023: PM Modi, Xi Jinping hold brief conversation, second time after G20 meet | Video
ANI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen brief conversation with Xi Jinping before the conference began of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Summit. The brief conversation between the two leaders seems like an interesting development in the backdrop of the famously estranged relationship between the two countries following the Eastern Ladakh standoff, that began in 2020 and has failed to reach a solution despite repeated talks among various ranks.
The interactions also comes a year after Prime Minister Modi had chanced upon Xi at the G20 dinner hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia. During the meet at G20, both PM Modi and China's Premier Xi Jinping had exchanged pleasantries during dinner which made national headlines in hope of a positive development concerning the Eastern Ladakh Galwan Valley conflict.
The G20 meet handshake between both the leaders was a first time interaction since the standoff between China's Peoples Liberation Army and the Indian forces in eastern Ladakh in April 2020. India and China have been in a stand-off situation for the last three years and relations at all levels have deteriorated due to tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The two sides have held 19 rounds of talks so far to address the boundary issues in eastern Ladakh since 2020, post the Chinese aggression there. Recently Congress leader and MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi on his six day visit to Ladakh had mentioned that China had occupied several places in the valley, and had flagged PM Modi's silence over the situation.
Gandhi's statement found support in several other Opposition leaders like Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut among others. PM Modi arrived in South Africa for
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