Modi, Xi expected to meet tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, nearly a week after India and China announced resolution of the 73-day Doklam stand-off.

According to officials, the two leaders are scheduled to hold a meeting on September 5 on the sidelines of the 9th Brazil-Russia-India-ChinaSouth Africa (BRICS) Summit, which will start on Monday in this port city. After the bilateral meeting with the host, Modi will be travelling to Myanmar.

The prime minister, who arrived here on Sunday to attend the Summit, said he was looking forward to having “productive discussions and positive outcomes” with leaders of the grouping to support the agenda for a stronger partnership among the member countries. He is also expected to meet leaders of countries like Egypt, invited by China as part of the outreach exercise.

The Chinese President on Sunday underscored that the BRICS must uphold the value of diplomacy to resolve “hotspot issues”. Xi also appeared to take a reconciliatory tone when he, without directly referring to the recent Doklam stand-off with India, underlined that “peace and development” should be the underpin to resolve issues as the world does not want “conflict and confrontation”.

“We the BRICS countries should show our responsibilities to uphold global peace and stability,” he said.