At G20 meetings, Modi bats for multilateralism
BUENOS AIRES: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Chinese President Xi Jingping for a fourth time in 2018, which he described as a milestone in bilateral relations, as the Asian giants see out the year on a note of warmth after beginning it against the frosty backdrop of a 73-day military standoff in the Doklam plateau last year.
On the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit talks in Buenos Aires, Modi also met UN chief Antonio Guterres, promising him that India will play its “due and responsible” role at the vital climate change negotiations next week. He also met Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman , and was to join a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinto Abe later on Friday.
The G20 summit is taking place amid the confluence of an array of fractious world issues including differences over climate change, a trade war between the US and China, Us-russia tensions and the conflict in Ukraine.
“This year has been very good and important for our bilateral relations,” Modi told Xi, officials said. “I am confident that the coming year would be even better. The informal summit between the two leaders in Wuhan [in April] proved to be a milestone for the two countries. This gave a new momentum to our engagement.” Modi said India was eager to host Xi at an informal summit.
The informal talks in Wuhan helped melt the frost that developed in Sino-indian relations following the standoff in Doklam.