Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping hold 'constructive talks' at G20 meet
The bilateral meeting was held in the backdrop of the two countries disagreeing on a range of issues including India's membership to the NSG.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, PTI reported. The half-an-hour bilateral meeting was held amid an atmosphere of disagreement, with the two countries not seeing eye to eye on issues ranging from a border dispute and China delaying India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Chinese state-run media agency quoted Xi as saying, "China is willing to work with India to maintain their hard-won sound relations and further advance their cooperation."
The listing of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the United Nations and the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have also been touchy topics in Sino-Indian relations. According to The Hindu, another meeting will be held after new mechanisms, including a platform for dialogue between India's foreign secretary and the Chinese vice-foreign minister, have been established.
Before the leaders met officials said, “Now that the new mechanisms are in place, it is unlikely that the two leaders will go into specific details about the contentious issues. We expect constructive talks.” However, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Modi had raised concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which will run through Pakis-occupied Kashmir, and the terrorism based in the region, PTI reported.
China has been closely monitoring India's deepening ties with the United States, particularly the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, which enables the Indian and US armed forces to have access to each other's supply and repair facilities.
Modi also met his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull and is scheduled to meet Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He also chaired a meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders on Sunday.