BRICS Summit 2023: PM Modi, Xi Jinping hold brief conversation, second time after G20 meet | Video

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in South Africa attending the 15th BRICS Summit, was spotted having a brief conversation with China's Premier Xi Jinping, on the side lines of the leaders' press conference, according to reports.

According to news agency ANI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen having a 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 the 15th BRICS Summit on Tuesday.

The opening day of the summit in Johannesburg was witness to the BRICS Business Forum Leaders’ Dialogue.

In his address at the BRICS Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue, PM Modi said India will soon be a 5 trillion dollar economy and in the coming years will be the growth engine of the world.

Later on, on the second day, at the open plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit, PM Modi said India had given a lot of importance to the countries of Global South under its G20 Presidency and lauded South Africa for the initiative as the chair of the BRICS summit.