Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping interacted briefly at the 15th Brics summit in Johannesburg, media reports said.
The two were snapped having a conversation before occupying their seats, the reports said.
The two leaders shook hands on the stage after the briefing.
However, Xi was absent during Modi’s address at the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) business forum meeting.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao was present in lieu of Xi.
There was no meeting between Modi and Xi during the SCO summit at Samarkand in 2022.
The two countries have not been on good terms for the last three years due to tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Nineteen rounds of unsuccessful talks have been held to address the boundary issues in eastern Ladakh since 2020, the reports said.
Meanwhile, Brics countries opposed granting membership to Pakistan despite China supporting Islamabad.
Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will be joining the Brics from January 2024.
Speaking about the new entrants,
Modi said that India favoured expansion of Brics has to further strengthen and get a new impetus.
Twenty three countries including Pakistan had sought membership in Brics.
Modi, Xi brief interaction
