China Had Requested: India Denies Beijing's Claims On PM Modi-Xi Jinping Meet

Contrary to China's assertion that the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in South Africa was at India's request, top government sources refuted this claim, saying that there was a "pending request from the Chinese side".

"There was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting with the Indian side," PTI reported, citing Indian sources. The sources said that during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, the two leaders engaged in an "informal conversation" at the Leaders Lounge.

The Chinese foreign ministry had previously stated, "President Xi Jinping talked with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit at the latter's request on August 23."

During their interaction, the two leaders concurred on expediting the de-escalation process across the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC), where tensions had escalated since June 2020 due to clashes in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley.

Both leaders also decided to instruct officials from their respective countries to work towards a prompt disengagement along the LAC.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "The conversation with President Xi Jinping occurred on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The Prime Minister engaged with other BRICS leaders as well. In his exchange with President Xi Jinping, the Prime Minister conveyed India's concerns regarding unresolved matters along the LAC and other regions along the India-China border."

According to a Chinese official statement, the two leaders engaged in a "frank and comprehensive exchange of opinions on present China-India relations and other areas of shared interest."

President Xi's statement emphasized that "enhancing China-India relations serves the mutual interests of both nations and their people, contributing to global and regional peace, stability, and development."

Moreover, the Chinese foreign ministry conveyed Xi's viewpoint: "Both sides should consider the broader picture of their bilateral relations and manage the border issue appropriately, thereby jointly upholding peace and tranquility in the border region."