Fuelling speculations on one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, the two leaders on Thursday were seen walking side by side and engaging in a brief conversation.
As per media reports, the interaction between PM Modi and Xi Jinping was captured shortly after the five-nation BRICS grouping unanimously agreed to expand its membership and invited six other nations to join the bloc.
Xi's aide stopped by security
Moreover, today an aide of the Chinese President was reportedly stopped by security officials as he was trying to catch up with the President.
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A viral video, which has emerged on social media, showed the President entering the hall of the venue. When his aide tried to catch up with him, South African security officials suspected him and blocked him from further entering.
Xi Jinping failed to attend Business Forum meet
Meanwhile, several media reports from Johannesburg stated that the Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to show up at the crucial BRICS Business Forum on Tuesday in South Africa.
On behalf og the Chinese President, his speech was read out by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao that criticised the US over its tendency toward “hegemony”.
However, Xi Jinping later attended the summit dinner, without giving an explanation for his absence at the key meeting.
