12 September,2026 08:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) with Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi. Pic/PTI
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday. During the start of the meeting, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the Chinese President for Beijing's encouragement for New Delhi's BRICS chairship, news agency PTI reported.
"I feel very happy in welcoming you. I thank you for your positive statement at the BRICS Summit. I express my gratitude for the support and cooperation received from China during India's BRICS chairship. We now have the opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation. Once again, a warm welcome to you in India," PM Modi said.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and other officials were also a part of the meeting.
As BRICS Chair 2026, India is hosting a two-day 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from Saturday, bringing together leaders, consolidating members, and partner countries, as well as outreach invitees.
Ahead of the summit, PM Modi shared moments of comradeship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Jinping as the three leaders were seen holding hands in a warm embrace and exchanging smiles at Bharat Mandapam.
PM Modi also heartily welcomed Xi Jinping and leaders of other BRICS members at the venue of the 18th BRICS Summit, with the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram as the backdrop for the ceremony. He briefly explained the significance of the temple backdrop to President Jinping during the event.
PM Modi and President Jinping had a short interaction during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek. The latest bilateral interaction between the two leaders was on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin in August 2025.
Earlier in the day, Jinping arrived in New Delhi to attend the summit. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada received him at the airport.
"Warm welcome to President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS Jitin Prasada at the airport. We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and contribute to a more balanced, representative and multipolar world," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.
Jinping's visit comes as India and China continue efforts to stabilise their bilateral relationship following the deadly Galwan clashes of 2020. India has frequently highlighted the need to maintain peace and calm in the border areas as key to the continued development of bilateral ties.
On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong spoke about the New Delhi meeting and indicated that China would work with India to apply the strategic guidance provided by the two leaders.
"This will be the third year in a row for the two leaders to meet with each other, following their meetings in Kazan (Russia) and Tianjin (China). China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed," the Chinese envoy posted on X.
(With Inputs from IANS)
