Johannesburg: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving for South Africa today to attend the 15th BRICS summit. The summit, which will be held in Johannesburg from August 23-24, will be the first in-person meeting of the BRICS leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Leaving for South Africa to take part in the BRICS Summit being held in Johannesburg. i will also take part in the BRICS- Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue events. the Summit will give the platform to discuss issues of concern for the Global South and other areas of development”, wrote PM Moid on platform X.
The summit is expected to focus on a number of issues, including economic cooperation, trade, investment, and climate change. However, the most pressing issue on the agenda is likely to be the India-China relationship.
The two countries have been locked in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. The standoff has led to a decline in bilateral relations, and there has been no high-level contact between the two sides since then.
There is speculation that Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping may hold a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. However, there has been no official confirmation of this yet.
If the two leaders do meet, it will be their first scheduled bilateral meeting since the border standoff began. It will be a significant opportunity for them to discuss the issue and try to find a way to de-escalate tensions.
The India-China relationship is a complex one, and there are many factors that will need to be considered in any attempt to resolve the border standoff. However, a meeting between the two leaders would be a positive step in the right direction.
It is important for India and China to maintain a stable and cooperative relationship. The two countries are major players in the global economy, and their cooperation is essential for addressing many of the challenges facing the world today.
The BRICS summit provides a platform for the two countries to discuss their differences and find common ground. It is an opportunity for them to build trust and cooperation, and it is essential that they seize this opportunity.
The eyes of the world will be on Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping when they meet in Johannesburg. The outcome of their meeting will have a significant impact on the India-China relationship, and it will also be a test of the strength of the BRICS group.