The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. India holds the BRICS presidency this year. On this occasion, a significant bilateral meeting is likely to take place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marks the Chinese President’s first visit since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Given the strain in political and diplomatic relations following the border dispute, this visit is being viewed as a major step towards bringing the relationship between the two nations back on track.
What might India gain from this meeting? LAC and Border Peace: Discussions will be held regarding the long-standing border dispute and the maintenance of stability and peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Rare Minerals Agreement: Major agreements are expected regarding the supply of magnets and critical rare minerals used in sectors such as electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), defense equipment, and renewable energy.
Trade and Economic Cooperation: Discussions may take place on removing trade barriers between the two nations, resuming direct flight operations, and enhancing economic cooperation.
It is worth noting that while there are signs of some improvement in relations between the two countries, a lack of mutual trust remains a significant challenge. Therefore, the entire world has its eyes on this diplomatic meeting.
