New Delhi, September 11: Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India to participate in the BRICS summit, as confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The summit will take place in New Delhi on September 12-13 and will include representatives from 11 countries, including China and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend.
This meeting, if it occurs, will mark the first bilateral talks between the two leaders in India since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, with China later acknowledging the loss of four of its soldiers.
India officially assumed the presidency of the 18th BRICS summit in January 2023. This year marks the fourth time India has held the presidency, having previously done so in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The year 2026 will celebrate the 20th anniversary of BRICS, which held its first summit in Russia in 2009.
There is also a possibility of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi during the BRICS summit.
In other news, Prime Minister Modi met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community, in New Delhi on September 10. The discussions focused on strengthening India’s partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network in areas such as health services, agriculture, rural development, and the empowerment of youth and women. This visit marks Prince Rahim’s first trip to India, aimed at promoting social development and heritage preservation.
In sports, Indian para archer Sheetal Devi won a gold medal at the World Archery Para Series on September 9, defeating Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan in the women’s individual compound final. The event took place in Ahmedabad, and this victory marks Sheetal’s first individual gold in the series, where she also achieved a season-best score of 698 points in qualification.
Additionally, on September 10, ISRO successfully tested the CE-20 cryogenic engine, which is used in the LVM3 rocket for various significant missions, including India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
Lastly, a joint military exercise between India and the United States has been announced for September 10, marking the 22nd edition of this ‘war exercise.’ This year, the exercise will take place in two different theaters: the deserts of Rajasthan and the high Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The aim is to enhance interoperability and joint military capabilities between the two nations.