BRICS Summit: PM Modi arrives in China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday arrived in China to attend the three-day BRICS Summit, which he hoped would support the agenda for a stronger partnership among the member countries, amid strain in Sino- India ties over a host of issues.

In a statement on Saturday, the prime minister said he was looking forward to productive discussions and positive outcomes at the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) Summit in Xiamen city, building upon the results of last year's Goa Summit between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The visit comes days after India and China managed to end the 73-day-long Doklam standoff. From Xiamen, he will travel to Myanmar on August 5 before returning to the country on August 7.

A possible meeting between PM Modi and Chinese leader Xi on the margins of the Summit will be a major focus at a time when ties between the two major powers have nosedived over a number of issues including the Dokalam stand-off.

The Summit meeting will take place on Monday.

The prime minister said he will have the opportunity to meet leaders bilaterally on the sidelines of the BRICS meet.

On the second leg of his five-day tour, PM Modi will travel to Myanmar for his first bilateral visit with an aim of charting a roadmap for closer cooperation between the two countries in areas which include security and counter- terrorism.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)