“I can confirm that there will be a meeeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping tomorrow on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The exact time and logistics are being worked out but the meeting will take place tomorrow.”
With that Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistri put to rest all the speculation in the lead up to the summit. How long the meeting could last, what would be agreed upon and so many other questions will have to wait until Wednesday’s meeting. This will be the first sit down meeting between Modi and Xi since the Galwan clash and much water has flown under the bridge since.
You can watch Nitin A. Gokhale, our Founder and Editor-in-Chief’s analysis from Kazan on the confirmation and clarifications here. He was in conversation with Amitabh P. Revi in our Delhi studio
Regaining trust is crucial. Questions also remain about what happens to the agreements signed in the 1990s that laid out in granular detail, how the two sides will function on the Line of Actual Control. All that for later.
Ties with Russia are also moving forward. Mistri pointed out that this is Modi’s “seventh visit to Russia in 10 years. There were also two visits in three months this year.”
During the bilateral with Putin, the two leaders shared perspectives on the conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated the need for a diplomatic resolution to the war and briefed the Russian president on his engagements with Ukrainian leaders. He said India stood ready to contribute to peace in the region.
The early discharge of Indian nationals serving in the Russian army also came up. “Currently the Indian embassy is pursuing 20 cases with Russia and their early release is anticipated,” Misri said.
Defence cooperation continues to move forward and an early date for the meeting of on military technical cooperation is expected to be announced. India’s Atomic Energy Commission and Russia’s Rosatom are in touch “over the installation of units three to six of the Kudankulam Power Project,” Misri said.
Putin has promised to help with India’s requirements of energy, sustaining supply chains, sourcing of fertiliser and coal. Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov is expected in India on Nov 12 for discussions on trade and culture. Misri also confirmed an Indian consulate will open in Kazan, the BRICS venue, and another one at a later date in Yekaterinburg.
The prime minister met Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezekshian. “Chah Bahar port was discussed also the INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor) seen as crucial for enhancing regional connectivity and economic partnership.”
In the long term, the Chah Bahar port signals both countries intention to aid in the reconstruction and develoopment of Afghanistan, enhancing trade and people to people linkages.
Modi also expressed concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, and called for the protection of civilians, emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
President Pezekshian emphasised peace and harmony in the region and the role India could lay in de-escalating the conflict “since it had good ties with all.”
