Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a concert before an informal dinner on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia October 22, 2024. (via REUTERS)
During the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a notable moment with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at an informal dinner. As the two leaders engaged in conversation, Modi’s thumbs-up gesture highlighted a spirit of camaraderie and cooperation among the powerful leaders.
This interaction comes at a crucial time, as India and China recently reached an agreement on “patrolling arrangements” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a significant step toward resolving a prolonged military standoff that began after clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020. The agreement reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations to ease tensions.
The gathering also underscored the strengthening ties between China and Russia, particularly in the context of global events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Visuals from the summit showed Putin warmly greeting Modi with a handshake and a hug, symbolizing their close relationship.
Looking ahead, Modi and Xi are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, as confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. This will be their first structured meeting since their informal summit in Mamallapuram in October 2019.
The recent agreement on patrolling arrangements was the result of extensive diplomatic talks, including multiple meetings between senior leaders from both countries. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in July and again during ASEAN meetings in Laos later that month. Additionally, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval discussed matters with Wang at a BRICS meeting in St. Petersburg in September.
With Modi’s thumbs-up serving as a symbolic gesture of optimism, the BRICS Summit not only highlights the importance of collaboration among its member nations but also sets the stage for potential breakthroughs in regional diplomacy.
