India, China offer different views on Modi-Xi conversation in Johannesburg
India and China on Friday offered divergent views to characterise the conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Johannesburg two days ago even as Beijing sought to downplay the eastern Ladakh border standoff saying the boundary question does not represent the «entirety» of the bilateral relations. In a readout on the conversation between the two leaders, the Chinese foreign ministry said President Xi Jinping conveyed to PM Modi that both sides should «bear in mind» the «overall interests» of the ties and «properly» handle the border issue.
Hours after Beijing's statement on Modi-Xi conversation claimed it was held at the Indian side's request, Indian sources said there was a «pending request» from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting, suggesting that New Delhi has not heeded to it.
«The two leaders, however, had an informal conversation in the leaders' lounge during the BRICS summit,» one of the sources said.
Modi and Xi held the conversation on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg, amid continuing strain in bilateral ties in view of the lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
The conversation was not a structured bilateral meeting.
