The BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are all set to meet for the seventh annual Summit to take place on Thursday in the Russian City of Ufa.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday and held bilateral talks. The border dispute between the two countries, trade and India's application for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group were the topics of discussion in the meeting.
The two national leaders also discussed the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). India is one of the founding members and the second largest shareholder of the Bank, IANS reports.
Other than bilateral talks, they also discussed the Chinese government's decision to put a "technical hold" on India's move in the United Nations questioning Pakistan on releasing mastermind of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, The Indian Express reports.
"The issue of Lakhvi did come up. Our Prime Minister raised our concerns on the issue and it was discussed in some detail... They will be taken up in the course of further discussions between the two countries," Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told reporters.
After Lakhvi was released from Adiala jail on the orders of Lahore High Court, which had dismissed his detention, the Indian government moved the UN on the issue of violation of the 1267 sanctions regime.
However, China used its veto power and put India's move on "technical hold" saying that the information India provided to support its case was not "sufficient".
But this meeting is likely to smoothen India-China relationship as the "Chinese side was impressed by the clarity with which he (Modi) conveyed our concerns on the issue," Jaishankar said.
Modi is also said to have told Jinping that their fifth meeting in a year is reflection of deepening relations between the two nations.
"Our fifth meeting in a year shows the depth of the India-China relationship PM @narendramodi tells President Xi," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Modi too tweeted after his meeting with the Chinese President and said, "Great meeting President Xi Jinping again. Our talks were comprehensive & a lot of topics came up for discussion."
