BEIJING (AFP): Chinese President Xi Jinping met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, Beijing's state media reported, as the city hosts a summit of the BRICS group of nations.
"On the afternoon of September 12, local time, President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi while attending the 18th BRICS Summit," state broadcaster CCTV reported, without providing further details.
Meanwhile, leaders of the BRICS grouping of countries are meeting Saturday in India's capital as the US-Iran war continues for a seventh month and with the Russia-Ukraine war in its fifth year, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The summit comes amid the broader global economic effects of the US-Iran conflict, which has fuelled an energy crisis and raised concerns about energy security, trade, and inflation.
On the eve of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope for "positive" and "meaningful" discussions.
China said it looks forward to "working with fellow BRICS countries to promote dialogue and negotiation to resolve differences and jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability."
The 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit brings together leaders and senior officials from the expanded grouping of 11 countries, including longtime members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - the origin of the BRICS name - plus more recent members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
On the first day, leaders will attend a closed-door session for BRICS member countries titled "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism".
They will also visit the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, take part in a tree-planting ceremony, and attend a gala dinner hosted by Modi.
Among those attending are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Brazil is being represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, with Saudi Arabia represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
