New Delhi: Today the 18th BRICS summit is starting. In this two-day long conference, the heads of state of BRICS countries will be seen on one stage. Many prominent leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend this meeting to be held at Bharat Mandapam.
Leaders of countries representing almost half the world’s population will discuss important issues related to global economy, trade, development, multilateralism and international cooperation. This conference being hosted by India is also being considered important in view of the changing global system.
Modi-Jinping face to face in India after 7 years
The much-awaited meeting of the leaders of India and China will also take place today during the BRICS Summit. Xi Jinping is visiting India after almost seven years. His plane is scheduled to land in Delhi at 12:35 pm. After this, a bilateral meeting is proposed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping at 5:45 pm.
The two leaders have met thrice in the last three years abroad. This is the third consecutive year that the two leaders will hold face-to-face talks after the meetings in Kazan and Tianjin. However, both of them are meeting on Indian soil after about seven years.
India-China relations changed after Galvan
Tension in relations between India and China had increased significantly after the violent clash in Galwan Valley in 2020. The armies of both the countries remained face to face for a long time on the border. Along with this, there was a strain in the relations between the two countries on the trade front and voices of opposition to Chinese goods were raised in India.
In such a situation, the meeting of Modi-Jinping today is being seen as an attempt to melt the ice in the relations between the two countries. The talks are likely to focus on reducing tension, increasing mutual trust and deciding the direction of future relations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said that preparations are being made for bilateral talks between the leaders of both the countries. China says that India and China should move towards increasing cooperation, finding appropriate solutions to disputes and strengthening dialogue.
What issues will be discussed in the meeting?
According to sources, along with strengthening military and diplomatic dialogue, many trade related issues may also arise in the Modi-Jinping talks. Increasing access of Indian companies to the Chinese market and reducing India’s trade deficit could be the main issues.
Apart from this, discussions are also possible on promoting Indian exports, making supply of machinery and technology easier, preparing reliable rules for Chinese investment and facilitating visas, flights and movement of people between the two countries.
India’s huge trade deficit of $151 billion
At present the trade between India and China is about 151 billion dollars. In this, India imports goods worth about 131 billion dollars from China, while India’s exports to China are about 20 billion dollars. In this way, India has a big deficit in trade between the two countries.
In the Modi-Jinping meeting, India can try to reduce this trade imbalance and get more opportunities in the Chinese market for Indian products.
Demand to open market in BRICS Business Forum also
The issue of trade also remained prominent in the BRICS Business Forum meeting held a day before the BRICS summit. India appealed to BRICS countries to open their markets to each other.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that India sees BRICS as an important market for its products. He stressed on strengthening trade and taking Indian products to different markets of the world through trusted partners.
Goyal said that BRICS countries should open their markets to each other’s products. This should also include raw materials and essential minerals. Its objective is to strengthen trade and business for the betterment of the people of the member countries.
What is India’s biggest hope from China?
China is the world’s second largest economy and its economic size is much larger than many other BRICS member countries. In such a situation, the biggest expectation from China on the BRICS platform is to open its market more to other member countries.
India wants to maintain balance in trade with China and Indian companies should get more opportunities in the Chinese market. On the other hand, China is trying to increase cooperation on global issues like war, trade war and climate change through the BRICS platform.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the economic relations between India and China as beneficial for both the countries. He expressed hope that India will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all countries.
India-China interests amid Trump’s tariff policy
The BRICS forum is also important for China to deal with the trade war and tariff policies of US President Donald Trump. India and China appear to have some common interests on this issue.
According to Chinese journalist Li Jinjing, the impact of trade war and tariffs is not limited to China only, but has also affected India and other countries. According to him, India and China are looking for a way to deal with this through dialogue and cooperation.
PM Modi also met Putin and Pezeshkian
A day before the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. There was a one-to-one conversation between Modi and Putin for about 45 minutes, while the Prime Minister’s conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian lasted for about 40 minutes.
During these meetings, warmth and better coordination was seen between both the sides. At the BRICS forum, PM Modi was also seen holding the hand of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian firmly.
Through these meetings, Prime Minister Modi tried to convey the message of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy instead of war. He also said in BRICS Business Forum that India is giving global confidence to the world.
China called Jinping’s visit to India important
Before Xi Jinping reached India, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong described this visit as important through social media. He said this is the third consecutive year that the two leaders will meet each other after the meetings in Kazan and Tianjin.
According to the Ambassador, India-China relations and furthering cooperation between the two countries will be discussed in the meeting. China wants to promote such friendly relations with India in which both countries become partners in each other’s success.
What will happen in BRICS today?
Many important programs are proposed during the BRICS summit today. There will be a closed door session of leaders of BRICS member countries at 2:35 pm. Its theme will be ‘Strengthening inclusive global governance and multilateralism’.
After this, BRICS leaders will visit ‘Bharat Innovates Exhibition’ at 4:25 pm. There will be an official family photo session at 5:05 pm and a joint tree planting ceremony will also be held.
A dinner will be organized for the leaders of BRICS countries hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7:30 pm.
Why is today’s BRICS summit special?
Overall, the importance of the Modi-Jinping meeting to be held in Delhi today is not limited only to India-China relations. Talks are likely to take place on a wide range of issues from defense and security to trade, investment, visas and flights.
The simultaneous presence of prominent leaders like Modi, Jinping and Putin on the BRICS platform is also considered important in view of the changing global balance of power. In such a situation, India as well as the world will be keeping an eye on every major activity taking place in Delhi today.
Also read: BRICS 2026: Once upon a time, it was branded as a weak economy, today India’s voice is ringing in the world, this is how the picture has changed in 13 years.