Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in South Africa to participate in the BRICS summit, which will span over the next three days. The top leaders of Brazil, China, Russia, and South Africa will convene in Johannesburg for this in-person summit, the first since 2019 after virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding the potential meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra stated that the schedule is under development. He emphasized a positive intent towards BRICS expansion, stating that the summit provides a platform for discussing global concerns.

As PM Modi departed for the summit, he highlighted its significance in identifying future areas of cooperation among BRICS members. He praised the summit for facilitating discussions on issues concerning the Global South.

Amidst a three-year confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, diplomatic and military talks have resulted in disengagement at several friction points. Recent high-level talks were labeled as “positive, constructive, and in-depth” in a joint statement.

In the past month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a BRICS nations meeting in Johannesburg. Doval emphasized the importance of resolving the situation in border areas to restore peace.

Tensions escalated between India and China following a clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. After extensive talks, the disengagement process was completed in 2021. India maintains that normalized relations require peace along the border.

Representing 40% of the world’s population across three continents, the BRICS nations share a common goal of shaping a global order aligned with their interests.

Should a bilateral meet occur between PM Modi and Xi Jinping, it would be their first since the India-China border standoff began in May 2020. Their brief interaction took place last year at the G20 dinner hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali.

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