- 26 minutes ago
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India, marking his first visit to the country in seven years following the 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit to review border disengagement implementation along the Line of Actual Control following military and national security advisor level talks. The leaders also addressed bilateral economic relations and the growing trade deficit. The 18th BRICS Summit brought together representatives from the expanded 11-member bloc under the theme of resilience, innovation, connectivity, and sustainability. Key initiatives discussed include the BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, supply chain resilience, expanded trade in services, and micro, small, and medium enterprise financing. Prime Minister Modi also conducted bilateral discussions with other attending world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on regional stability and global trade cooperation.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00On that note, viewers, we are starting the bulletin with our focus on one of the most crucial bilaterals
00:06that we are speaking of for the day, that is, with the Chinese President Sri Jinping.
00:13Now, he's already left for the BRICS summit, is what we're given to understand.
00:17He's departed and he's on route to India for the 18th BRICS summit.
00:2212.25 is, this is Indian Standard Time that we're referring to, is when he arrives in the national capital,
00:29Delhi.
00:305.45 p.m., Indian Standard Time again, is when the much-awaited bilateral takes place.
00:37All eyes on Modi Sri Milan today, with bilateral business, Buddha and Bonhomi on the plate.
00:45And much more, of course, that we will be tracking from the very sidelines of the summit.
00:50Of course, the summit in itself also shall begin in a short while as the day proceeds.
00:57Now, this, remember, would be Modi and Sri's third meet in a row and third year in a row that
01:04they would be meeting.
01:05In 2024, it was Kazan.
01:07Then 2025, it was Tianjin at the sidelines of the SCO summit.
01:11And now it is at the sidelines of the very BRICS summit in New Delhi itself that this meeting shall
01:19take place.
01:19So, this is a very crucial meeting that we're speaking of with Sri Jirenping coming back to India after seven
01:27long years.
01:27The first time, in fact, for him to be making a visit to the country after the Galwan clashes had
01:37taken place.
01:37And this is after seven years for the seventh meeting that we are talking about, where Delhi is to witness
01:44the dragon tiger tango.
01:47China has called Indian ties and ties with our country key for the global south.
01:53Sri leaves for the 18 BRICS summit as we speak currently.
01:58Now, after seven years, Chinese President Sri Jirenping will be back in India.
02:03And while a lot is on the plate, if we are to talk about some of the most crucial aspects
02:08that shall be looked at when we speak of a bilateral meeting,
02:12one that's already been in one of the central subjects, one of the central themes of a conversation between India
02:21and China,
02:22it's been border and security.
02:25The prerequisite for any kind of a reset.
02:28Remember, yes, last year itself in 2025, when the two leaders had met up the sidelines of the SCO summit
02:35at the Anjan,
02:36that is where the conversation had gotten rolling with regards to a requirement for disengagement, but disengagement in phases.
02:50Now, since then, that was 2025, we're speaking in 2026, there have been several visits on both sides of different
02:58counterparts and their leaders and the counterparts.
03:02In fact, if we are to talk about the latest visit, it was our national security advisor, Ajit Doval, who
03:10had visited China,
03:13as well as there was a meeting of the core commanders, where disengagement on either sides was looked at as
03:22to how that shall, in fact, be unfolding and executing in phases.
03:28The meeting will be reviewing that very disengagement implementation and the core commander level talks and special representatives' boundary process.
03:38There is still a lot that needs to be discussed in terms of mutual agreement that defines what exactly shall
03:47the status of the LSEB.
03:50How will the two countries be engaging with each other?
03:53At the same time, viewers, that's not all.
03:56When we speak of India and China ties, trade and economics, there's huge stakes and a big imbalance that we're
04:02speaking of between
04:04a major developing economy like India and an economy of the scale that China brings to the table.
04:14The bilateral goods trade crossed $155 billion in 2025, up about 12% year-on-year, but has been heavily
04:24skewed.
04:24And there's a favorable downtime we see toward the Chinese side.
04:32They have the upper hand in terms of the trade deficit that we're speaking of.
04:38There's a lot that we'll have to keep a track of.
04:41Shivani Sharma joining me on the broadcast to bring more insights into what exactly there's a bilateral between the two
04:48leaders bring to the table and to the highlight.
04:52Shivani, a very good morning to you.
04:54It is the first day of the BRICS summit, 2026.
04:58And while the eyes are all on the summit in itself, one crucial aspect that we're all keeping a very
05:05close track of is this bilateral.
05:07What do you expect from the bilateral as we speak?
05:11Good morning to you, Shriya, and to all our viewers.
05:14And yes, today is the first day of the BRICS summit, 2026 in Delhi.
05:19But we've seen how the developments have already started since yesterday with important bilaterals.
05:25And today is another important day with the summit starting at 2.
05:30But yes, five important bilaterals that will be happening.
05:34And the most important one happens to be with the president of China, Xi Jinping, who will please.
05:40And this will be his first visit in seven years.
05:50In Delhi after seven years.
05:52So this is important.
05:56Right, Shivani, we'll come back to you and we'll fix that audio network as well.
06:02But right now, viewers, let's take you through more details about this very bilateral.
06:08What exactly has been said so far ahead of the summit with regards to it.
06:13Let's take a look.
06:23On that note, let's quickly take a look at what the Chinese media have to say when we speak of
06:29a bilateral.
06:30Sri Modi meeting, he highlights of the BRICS.
06:34They have to say that China and India ties are showing good momentum.
06:38Sri's India visit is a major development for those very ties as we speak.
06:42India, China must speak in one voice.
06:47Closer India-China ties is positive for the global south.
06:51Xi Modi bilateral meeting is in focus as the BRICS summit is all set to open in the national capital
06:59as we speak.
07:00On that note, we have Ashutosh Mishra joining us on the broadcast.
07:03This, in fact, let us tell you, viewers, this is the remark that's coming from the Global Times.
07:10Ashutosh, a very good morning to you.
07:12It's a big day in the heart of the national capital.
07:16There's a lot of activities lined up.
07:19Speaking of the BRICS summit itself, but on the sidelines, there's this meeting that we're all having our eyes set
07:26on.
07:27The Xi Modi meet.
07:29What exactly is on the table?
07:31Just take us and elaborate a little more, given the current context of the relationship shared between India and China.
07:41So, often during these global summits, the meetings in the sidelines of these summits often are very critically important and
07:48significant geopolitically.
07:50Provided what's happening with the BRICS, we know that there is also talked about much of the counter of G7,
07:58the most powerful group in the globe.
08:00But at the same time, the representation of BRICS, their contribution to the GDP and the global trade, that makes
08:06it significant.
08:06Now, as we're talking about the sidelines meeting, the sideline meeting that happened with Prashish Kyan, with the Iranian leadership,
08:13and the sideline meeting that also happened with Putin.
08:17So, at the very same time, why it makes it very important that we have seen the growing conflict, tension,
08:23the border dispute between India and China.
08:26Post-Galwan, the things where we have seen, you know, at peak of its stress.
08:30Now, gradually for over the year, we have seen, at least in one year, that we have tried to reduce
08:35the tension.
08:35The Beijing-Delhi flights have been started.
08:37The trade is bringing you gradually back on track.
08:40China, at the same time, also supported, okay, let there be the market open for Indian products.
08:45We have seen the NSA-level talks between India and China.
08:48And amidst all of that, ultimately, these optics, the symbolic gesture meeting the leadership in the sidelines gives a picture.
08:57And also, you know, it's a step forward that, okay, India-China can come together, can, you know, work together,
09:04keeping their interests aside,
09:06since two of these powerful growing economies can work together.
09:09And ultimately, the global peace can only be way forward for the stability, the regional stability.
09:15Now, provided India and China stress continues, the geopolitical tension continues, which is disturbing for not only both the economy,
09:22but across the world.
09:23So, this is very important, looking at particularly the India-China border dispute.
09:27We are seeing also the commander-level talks are happening.
09:29So, at multiple scale, there have been an effort to ease the stress between two.
09:35And when Xi Jinping comes, largely, the talk will be on the, you know, keeping both the partners, since you,
09:40you know, there's a very common say that you cannot change your neighbor.
09:43But at least if there are disputes, one can talk.
09:45When you meet, you talk, you discuss.
09:47And that helps to keep the regional stability and peace in the region.
09:51So, India and China, leadership coming together, giving that picture also gives the hope, okay, that in future, at least
09:58this relationship could be normal.
10:00Very importantly, when you have this stability, when you have, you know, the diplomatic relationship on track, it eventually helps
10:07to expand your trade business.
10:09Now, provided India and China, the trade deficit of India with China, we can have maximum number of exports.
10:15We have seen this, you know, impact of the American sanction.
10:18Exactly what India was needed was the diversification of its market.
10:22We have got that market.
10:23Now, we are investing in BRICS nation, in Southern Africa, in Ethiopia-like countries.
10:27So, China is also one of the growing and bigger markets.
10:29They said they will welcome the Indian product.
10:31So, all these optics gives a message of the regional peace.
10:35Partners can work together, can keep their interests, you know, their own interests and ambitions aside.
10:40And very importantly, this is the time for the superpower, for the world power to work together and give a
10:45larger message that this is not a time for a, you know, when Prime Minister said that you cannot go
10:50in an endless war.
10:51And the same is applicable with the geopolitical tension between two neighbors like India and China.
10:56So, we have seen the effort has been taken for once one year.
10:59And this is one of such step forward when the leadership will be coming together in their pictures, will give
11:04a message for both India and China.
11:06Okay, this is now time to work together.
11:09Absolutely.
11:10This is definitely viewers.
11:11Ashutosh, thank you for putting that into context for our viewers.
11:14Well, it is definitely not just any other bilateral that we are talking about.
11:20Yes, India values its relationship with each of its partner nations as we are speaking of, that it shares relationships
11:27with.
11:28But India and China have been long-time neighbors, but in the recent past with several conflicts having featured into
11:37that very relationship.
11:38So, speaking on that very note, and historically, so we have seen India-China relationships, seeing the downturn as well.
11:46But as we speak, we do come to a phase and a time when Xi Jinping is visiting India yet
11:56again after seven long years.
11:59And this is the first since the Galwan clashes.
12:01The Galwan clashes is the recent such conflict that we are speaking of between India and China,
12:08which is why there is only added weight to this very visit of Xi Jinping.
12:13So, after seven long years, the dragon and the tiger are meeting again.
12:17After years of hot and cold relations, India and China are finally entering a phase of cautious warmth again.
12:25Cautious being the key word there.
12:27After years of ups and downs, the two countries are meeting,
12:31and this time it is a bilateral meeting between their leaders directly.
12:34Secondly, Xi Jinping will be landing in India at around 12.25 p.m.
12:38By 5.45 p.m., the world will witness what could be one of Asia's most consequential power equations.
12:45Ahead of the meeting, China's mouthpiece is hailed at the Modi-Xi meeting,
12:49saying that stronger India-China ties are important for the global south, for Asia, and for the world.
12:57Now, if you're speaking of this very meeting, there's been a lot of conversation on both sides,
13:03and political analysts, journalists, everybody is analysing what exactly awaits when we speak of,
13:11what's on the agenda when we speak of this high-stake meeting between the two leaders.
13:15Speaking on the Chinese president, Xi Jinping's visit to India,
13:18and the bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister,
13:21political commentator Einar Tanjian analyses the broader geopolitical context here.
13:27Here is an excerpt from his interaction with India Today's Gaurav Sawant.
13:33What is the assessment on Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India
13:39for the British summit and the bilateral that will be held?
13:45Well, this has been a long time in the making. It's been seven years since he was in India. But
13:50for the last three years, they have been meeting on the sidelines of meetings. This is the first
13:56official bilateral. And they're making progress. There have been more meetings scheduled in terms of
14:02the military issues on the border. But this particular meeting is going to be not about India and China.
14:10It is going to be about the rest of the world. Remember, many of these countries are coming
14:15together because of a threat or threats or actions by the United States. And I don't mean just on the
14:22military side, the trade side. When you start looking at many of these countries, it's aptly put
14:29that they're looking for resilience. And that means that they do not want to be dependent.
14:35They do not want to be dominated. And they do not want to be destroyed. And the question is,
14:40and India's lead Sherpa here, is how do you have a successful meeting that creates this resilience
14:48without directly confronting the US and creating a bigger problem? As we all know, Donald Trump does
14:57not take kindly to the idea that there's any bigger entity out there. And BRICS is that.
15:05When we talk of an opportunity, yes, there is an opportunity. But BRICS nations also see greater
15:10access to the Chinese market. You know, they don't want to be dominated by the West. At the same time,
15:17they wouldn't want to be dominated by China either. Do you see a scenario where there's greater access
15:23to Chinese market for goods of BRICS nations or greater access to either the solar production line
15:32or the wind energy production line or their opinions for BRICS nations to move forward as a group in your
15:38assessment survey? Well, there's already great access. The question is competitiveness. China is
15:46extremely competitive. And many of the inputs that go into pieces of whatever is created in other
15:54countries actually do come from China. For instance, India has a very robust generic medicine
16:02industry. And a lot of the underlying chemicals actually come from China. So it's a question of
16:09how does India become competitive in one of the most competitive markets out there?
16:16Remember, China is not doing, you know, a favor or nor is India doing China a favor when it buys
16:24Chinese goods. Do you think competition is the only reason or are there barriers that really need to
16:31be removed from the Chinese side for greater access to for Indian goods to the Chinese market,
16:36for example, Mr. Tianjin? Well, there's always room to look at what the scenario is. I am not familiar
16:44with it. There was for quite a while impediments created by the Chinese side to generic drugs coming
16:52from India. They insisted it was because of concerns about safety. I don't agree with that. So the question
16:58is, how do you get over this? There is a history of tit for tat. When you have border issues,
17:05all of a
17:05sudden it spills over to economic ones. And this is what I think the beauty of BRICS is, that you
17:10can get
17:10nations who don't agree on things to come together. I mean, if you have Iran and the UAE at the
17:17same
17:18meeting, that tells you something. And they're trying to achieve what they can agree on as opposed to
17:23focus on what they cannot agree on. So I think with peer pressure, I think it is good for everybody,
17:31including India and China, to see that there is a greater picture here, and just the bilateral trade
17:40between these countries, that there's an opportunity to lead the world. And remember, Randa Modi has said
17:46that in exchange for Xi supporting his BRICS meeting, he intends to support China's next coming
17:54meeting, which will be next year. I think this is a good start.
17:59On that note, viewers, we're being joined by Shinwa correspondent from Dubai, Martina Fuchs,
18:05who will in fact be putting forward more insights as to what this meeting indeed brings to the table.
18:13Martina, a very good morning to you from India today. My first question to you would be,
18:17what do you see is the significance of Xi's meeting with Prime Minister Modi as he visits
18:25for the first time ever since the Galwan clashes?
18:31Absolutely. This is Xi Jinping's first visit to India, so highly symbolic since 2019.
18:40There are, of course, very high stakes since the border clashes in 2020.
18:45So this Xi-Modi meeting is, of course, a very crucial test for the bilateral relationship.
18:53The border dispute remains one of the biggest obstacles in these relations, even though they
19:00have improved with flights, border trade and more people-to-people exchanges. They are resuming,
19:08but the tensions are still there. On top of that, we also have the very significant
19:15trade imbalance between India and China. Remember that China is India's largest trading partner,
19:24with the bilateral trade reaching some US$151 billion earlier this year in March. But, of course,
19:33the trade deficit from India towards China has widened to some US$112 billion. So this is
19:41absolutely crucial in their relationship. I don't really expect a big breakthrough in the bilateral
19:49relations, but some improvement because, as you remember, there's been such a political rivalry
19:56going on for many, many years. So I do see that there could be some kind of rapprochement at least.
20:06Right, Martina. So what, according to you, is the importance of the India-China trade ties,
20:12because we are speaking of two of the biggest economies here, with two of the biggest economies,
20:19in fact, across the world at this given point, within the BRICS, if we are to take a look at
20:24it,
20:24when this bloc has now come out to emerge as a crucial power, representing the global South
20:31against a world order that was highly dominated by the West for far too long?
20:38It comes at a very, very crucial time for the world, of course, as trade and technology and AI
20:47innovation is shifting more east. And we need this South-South cooperation. Of course, India deserves
20:55to get a greater market access and a more balanced economic relationship with China. So New Delhi,
21:02of course, has a very good point and a very strong case when it comes to discussing with China the
21:10strategic sectors, including especially batteries, clean energy infrastructure, and also protecting its
21:18own manufacturing base. It will be one of the dialogues of the future. This is a very crucial
21:25relationship that much of the world will depend on, because we have two of the biggest populations in
21:32the world there. As you know, India overtook China a few years ago with the biggest population in the
21:38world. So all eyes are now on this meeting between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping later during the BRICS
21:45summit. Absolutely, Martina, all eyes are on this very meeting. Now, let's also talk about another
21:53country that has a very close relationship with India. And there's a triad that people are looking at
22:01at this given point, Russia, China and India. What would you say, given there's a bilateral meeting
22:06that's already taken place between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin yesterday itself,
22:12what role can you see this triad playing amid, in fact, a situation, a geopolitical situation where
22:19the world is marred with several wars? The one currently that has been under the spotlight in
22:25the recent times is, of course, the escalations in West Asia.
22:31India. I really see that especially India has to play the role of multi-alignment. It can't just choose
22:40one camp, whether it's the US or Russia or India. So it's really important to put all the different
22:45eggs into different baskets. I do see it still as a multi-polar world. So India is really at the
22:54core
22:55of being able to play these various diplomatic ties very wisely and very strategically and also very
23:03diplomatically. We have all the tariff disputes. We have President Trump, of course, very unpredictable.
23:10We never know what he does the very next day or the very next second. So it's very important that
23:16we get some results from this BRICS summit to be able to analyze and reassess the political and
23:24geopolitical world order to really make sense and try to bring more peace and more unity to the world
23:33because it has, as you know, never been in such a very complex and complicated order.
23:40Right. Last but not least, Martina, we will see the BRICS summit, the 18th BRICS summit that India is
23:47hosting right here in New Delhi. It will be set into motion in just another few hours' time.
23:54Just a quick takeaway or rather an expectation that you have at this given point from the BRICS 2026
24:02summit, India edition. Thank you so much. This will be the key takeaway, of course. This summit is
24:12really less about dramatic India-China rapprochement and improvements in their bilateral relationship.
24:20It's more about managing their previous rivalry in terms of politics and the border issues and the
24:28people-to-people exchange. It's really about stabilizing the border. It's rebalancing trade and also
24:34showing that India intends to remain strategically autonomous in this multipolar world.
24:43Right. Martina, thank you so much for joining us on India today and putting forward your insights.
24:49It's a big meeting that's, of course, upcoming later in the day and we
24:53have all our eyes set on it with different sets of expectations and several common expectations on
25:01both sides. And yes, viewers, we are tracking to very much, we're continuing to track that
25:06particular meeting very much with each and every development coming in as we speak. Let's in fact
25:13take you through another aspect of India-China, which is, at the end of the day, the powerhouse duo,
25:20especially when we speak of the global south. It's a combined market of nearly 2.8 billion people
25:28that we're speaking of out of the 8 billion people across the world. Now, 40 percent of the world's
25:35population is basically accounted for between these two countries. It's a stronger voice that it finds in
25:43the BRICS, the G20 and the SCO. There are several of these blocks where India and China do not
25:50just find themselves as members, but they're members that have oftentimes come out to shape and
25:58lead from the very front in terms of where the world is headed. The joint push for a multipolar
26:05world order. We're standing at a time in 2026 in a situation in a geopolitical landscape which is only,
26:12with each passing day moving farther and farther away from only one superpower dominating the world.
26:20There are different countries at this given point that bring to the table, that is across global
26:27platforms, different aspects in terms of strengths and leadership for that matter. The global south has
26:33been emerging in terms of a power block and India and China have been right at the helm of affairs
26:41when we
26:42speak of it. Contribution to the stability in Asia. The relationship between these two countries
26:49indeed come out to also define the situation in the Asian continent. What exactly is the current
26:57geopolitical status of the continent? A lot of that depends on the relationship between China and India.
27:05And of course, one aspect that remains, India and China may have a formal relationship that dates
27:13about perhaps a few decades. A few decades in the sense of seven decades almost, more than seven decades
27:22if we speak. But the ancient civilizational links go eons back. These were two of the most oldest of
27:30civilizations when we speak of the subcontinent here in itself. And that historic civilizational ties
27:37will remain no matter what the situation in the present times, be it border security, be it the trade
27:44relations. That tie, that historic ties, the origin of both countries and civilizations, that always remains
27:52at the heart of the relationship between the two powerhouses. Now, as we are speaking viewers, let's
27:57quickly take a look at another report on this very meeting. Seven years after his last India visit,
28:04Sri Jinping is all set to return to India. All eyes are, of course, on the Modi-shi meeting as
28:09we speak.
28:10But from Ahmedabad to Mahmala Puram, the two leaders once projected warmth in Bonhami. Then came Galwan and a
28:18dramatic rupture in that very relationship. Now, with the ties cautiously thawing, can the dragon and the tiger
28:26script a new chapter? That remains to be the question of the very hour of the very day. Let's take
28:35a look at the
28:37relations that have panned out over years as we speak.
28:56Seven years after his last visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in India on Saturday.
29:03He will arrive for the BRICS summit and all eyes are now on the expected bilaterals on the sidelines of
29:10the summit.
29:11Because this isn't their first encounter in recent weeks. The two leaders were together at the SEO
29:18summit in Bishkek just days ago, where they exchanged a brief, cordial greeting.
29:27But their last substantive bilateral came just over a year ago when Prime Minister Modi met Xi in Tianjin
29:34on the sidelines of the SEO summit in August 2025.
29:41That Tianjin meeting was itself significant. It came as India and China were attempting to move
29:47beyond the deep freeze that followed the 2020 Galwan clash, with the two sides working to stabilise ties
29:55and keep the border calm.
30:01Now, Xi is coming to India. His first visit in seven years. His first since the Galwan crisis.
30:08And this time, the setting is different. Global wars and a much-anticipated Modi-Xi bilateral.
30:19The talks are expected to put the spotlight on the border, trade, investment and the broader
30:25India-China relationship, testing just how far this cautious thought can go.
30:30But to understand why this meeting carries so much weight, let's rewind to the Modi-Xi bonhomi.
30:39It's the first time.
30:40Ahmedabad, 2014. Xi Jinping's first official visit to India and the optics were unmistakable.
30:50From the Sabarmati ashram to the strolls along the Sabarmati riverfront.
30:55And then, the now-iconic Jhula moment. Modi and Xi were already showcasing a distinctly informal chemistry.
31:08Xi'an, 2015. Modi became the first foreign leader to be hosted by Xi in his hometown,
31:15a selfie moment that captured the warmth between the two leaders.
31:21Wuhan, 2018. A relaxed informal summit, long one-on-one conversation, walks and strategic
31:29discussions as the two leaders tried to put the Duklan tension behind them.
31:36And then came Chennai, 2019. She arrived in Tamil Nadu for the second informal summit with Modi.
31:43In Mahabalipuram, the two leaders sold a picture of civilizational connect and a personal rapport.
31:49It was a relationship being carefully projected through personal chemistry, informal meetings and grand Indian hospitality.
32:00But behind the smiles, serious fault lines remained.
32:04Over the border, and China's ties with Pakistan.
32:08And then in 2020, Galwan happened.
32:13Now after seven years, Xi is back in India.
32:17And the question is whether the Modi-Xi chemistry of the past can once again
32:21translate into a more stable relationship between the dragon and their living.
32:33On our note, viewers, let's quickly, in fact, also take a look at the BRICS focus.
32:40What with India hosting the BRICS summit this year.
32:44This is India's five-point BRICS focus that we have accessed on India today.
32:49India's BRICS presidency, over 400 meetings held, with humanity first being at the heart of India's BRICS chairship.
32:58What the outreach exactly entails at this given point would be women, farmers, two of the communities
33:08who have enough focus within India in itself, in its domestic policies in itself.
33:15And we see that very message, in fact, being the central theme when we speak of India's focus
33:23as taking up the presidency of the BRICS summit this time.
33:27Now India's pillars, resilience, innovation, connectivity and sustainability.
33:32That is the theme.
33:34Building all four is the theme that India has, in fact, pushed forward for this BRICS summit,
33:40this edition of BRICS summit 2026.
33:42So on that note, we have Pranay Upadhyay joining me on the broadcast.
33:44Pranay, very good morning.
33:47Scheduled packed day, I'm sure, for all of us here as we speak.
33:51Several of these bilateral meetings having taken place on the sidelines since yesterday.
33:55Some crucial ones with President Putin, with President Puzeshkia.
33:59But right now, what we're talking about is the BRICS summit at the heart of it.
34:04Because at the end of the day, that is the event for which all of these global leaders have flown
34:08in.
34:08Now we're speaking of a power block that, in fact, accounts for 40% of the global GDP.
34:15PPP, that is, that being the very denominator here.
34:19And our population, almost 50% of the world's population that we're speaking of when we speak of the 11
34:25member nations.
34:26It's an emerging power block which indeed has the West thinking at this point.
34:31And of course, their eyes set on the summit.
34:33What do we make of it and the theme that India has pushed forward?
34:38Good morning, Shreya. Certainly, this is a big day for India, India's chair shift for the 18th BRICS summit.
34:45And in fact, this is probably the world's largest ever BRICS summit hosted by India,
34:50not only in terms of numbers, but also in terms of the elaborate agenda.
34:55The preparation went in to get some sensible outcomes.
34:59Because almost 400 meetings went for this apex level, the summit level build-up for the leaders to come together
35:07in India.
35:08And in fact, you know, today also, Prime Minister Nareen Modi's schedule is quite packed.
35:14You know, his day starts at around 10.30 with a bilateral meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister Anbar Ibrahim.
35:21And in fact, you know, before that, in fact, he'll be meeting the Prime Minister of Ethiopia at around 10
35:27.00 and 10.30.
35:28He is meeting the Malaysian Prime Minister.
35:30Thereafter, he will be meeting the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Ghayr al-Nayan.
35:38And the fact that Prime Minister Nareen Modi will also be meeting the Prime Minister of Vietnam,
35:43then Prime Minister of, you know, then he had a meeting with the other leaders as well.
35:50And in fact, today, in the evening, Prime Minister Modi will be holding a meeting with the Chinese President Xi
35:57Jinping
35:57around 5.30 or 5.45 p.m., that is the time schedule.
36:01But, you know, keeping in view the engagement, you know, the timing may vary.
36:09But certainly, besides the bilateral meeting, bilateral agenda, the big meeting will kick off today with all these leaders.
36:18In fact, you know, besides the bilateral engagement, the multilateral engagement, leaders will also be planting the saplings,
36:25you know, the Ekpaal Per Makina initiative at Bharat Mandapam.
36:29And in fact, in the evening, Prime Minister Nareen Modi will be hosting a gala dinner for all the BRICS
36:34leaders.
36:34In fact, 160 artists from various BRICS countries are also in India.
36:40There will be a cultural presentation before these BRICS leaders.
36:44And in fact, the very idea is that considering BRICS as an entity, as an economic bloc, as a cohesive,
36:53you know, grouping,
36:54and this is what India is trying to stitch together, to build together, and in fact, to reach the benefits
37:02of, you know, this cohesion or this grouping
37:05and translating it into some tangible outcomes.
37:08Tangible outcomes as in, you know, as you rightly mentioned that, you know, the building resilience, innovation, sustainability,
37:14and all those, these are not words merely for India, but India actually want these things or these ideas to
37:22be translated into actual programs
37:25which can bring greater good for people residing in all these BRICS countries
37:30and, in fact, can work together to find solution to the international challenges.
37:36Yesterday, Prime Minister Nareen Modi addressing the BRICS business forum, Shreya,
37:40we gave an idea that let's let BRICS fund, you know, 100 startups which can work together
37:49and which can work outside the BRICS economy so that we can showcase to the world that this is the
37:54idea BRICS can translate into,
37:56this is the idea which BRICS can work together. So, there are creative ideas, there are tangible outcomes which India
38:03is looking at
38:04and, in fact, there are 50 documents prepared as part of India's chairship, India's presidency during the BRICS outcome in
38:12various sectors.
38:14Absolutely right, Pranay, and that is why this summit comes in to be such a crucial one,
38:21especially at a time when we do see escalations across war theaters, of course, the current one being in West
38:29Asia
38:29and a lot of it has to do with the theme that we're speaking of, the resilience, the connectivity, cooperation,
38:38sustainability,
38:39all of that comes together to really push forward a geopolitical atmosphere
38:45which is much more conducive to growth and development instead of it being an era of war,
38:51as the Prime Minister himself has put forward. That's his message, that's been his message across global platforms.
38:58So, let's quickly take you through what do we have in store for you as long as the summit is
39:04concerned.
39:05It is day one of the BRICS summit today, the 18th BRICS summit, with India hosting the world leaders,
39:1111 member nations, as we speak, of whose world leaders are currently in New Delhi,
39:18some are still en route as we speak, and by 2pm today they will all be here in the national
39:25capital of the country.
39:26And they all look to put its agenda for the grouping front and centre.
39:31But the summit begins under the long shadow of the Iran war,
39:34with the conflict threatening to overshadow the talks and test the BRICS unity.
39:38With Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia all being part of the expanded grouping,
39:43India faces the difficult task of building consensus.
39:46Despite deep divisions within the BRICS, from West Asia rivalries to the unresolved India-China border dispute,
39:52for Prime Minister Modi, the diplomatic challenge will be to navigate these fault lines,
39:58while pushing India's priorities on trade, resilient supply chains and greater financing for small businesses.
40:05And it will, of course, be a packed day of diplomacy for the Prime Minister,
40:10with crucial bilaterals having been lined up, some of which was being mentioned by my colleague,
40:14Rana Upadha, including a meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping later this evening,
40:19which, of course, tops that list of bilaterals that are much awaited at this given point.
40:26In fact, even before the summit formally got underway,
40:28it was Prime Minister who held three key bilaterals yesterday itself,
40:32meeting the Russian President Vladimir Putin,
40:35the Iranian President Masud Vazeshkia,
40:37and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
40:44So what exactly will be the priorities that India looks forward to
40:49and pushes forward for the BRICS summit that it is, in fact, presiding over?
40:56Number one is the BRICS Economic Partnership of 2030.
41:00The goal for BRICS as to how much of the economy shall be expanded from 40%,
41:08holding on to 40% of the world's GDP right now,
41:12PPP being the metric,
41:14how far can it, in fact, be expanded to further from here in the next five years?
41:21Expanding trade in services, small businesses, of course.
41:25India has always been extremely vocal about indigenous businesses, small businesses.
41:31In fact, we have our own policy of making India,
41:36which, of course, has been a major part that the Prime Minister has given a push to
41:41across global platforms.
41:42So leading by example, bringing in that expansion of trade in services,
41:48especially via small businesses, that remains to be another focus.
41:52Number three is building resilient supply chains.
41:54When we speak of resilient supply chains,
41:56the world had almost come to a standstill when we speak of fuel supply,
42:03a basic like a fuel supply,
42:05when the West Asia war had started just months ago.
42:09Why?
42:09Because a crucial choke point like Strait of Hormuz had been blocked.
42:15There is a requirement, there is a need that came in as a major alarm bell and a wake-up
42:20call
42:20for countries across the world.
42:23And this is even developed countries that we are speaking of,
42:25developed economies that we are speaking of,
42:27that have come under major strain because of this disruption in the supply chain.
42:33So there is a requirement for resilient supply chains.
42:37The boost in financing for MSMEs, that's what we were in fact putting forward a little while back.
42:43MSMEs has been a major sector as far as India goes,
42:47especially domestically speaking in terms of policies.
42:50We've seen it take a priority.
42:52And now that is the very model, the strategy that India wants to offer
42:56and bring to the table for the rest of the world to also follow with its focus.
43:02On that note, let's also take a look at another report
43:06with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having gifted the Russian president
43:10a cultural token as a gift yesterday when he met for the bilateral meeting.
43:17This is President Vladimir Putin being given a translation of an ancient Tamil classic,
43:23Tirukhural, during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
43:27Now this gift has a significance that goes beyond just another literary piece.
43:34It's carried a particular significance because of the text's long-standing,
43:38though lesser-known, connection with Russia itself,
43:42where Indian philosophy has influenced writers and intellectuals for centuries to come.
43:48Take a look at this very report.
44:02A Tamil classic, a Russian translation,
44:06and a gift from Modi to Putin.
44:13As India-Russia ties face global scrutiny,
44:16the Prime Minister chose a book rooted in India's ancient wisdom
44:20for his meeting with the Russian president.
44:25Narendra Modi gifted Vladimir Putin the Russian translation of Tirukhural,
44:30the celebrated work of Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.
44:42The text, written over 2,000 years ago,
44:45comprises 1,330 couplets on virtue, ethics, governance, love, and the conduct of life.
44:54And this wasn't a random choice.
44:56Tirukhural has had a Russian literary connect for decades,
45:00with multiple translations over the years.
45:06And this is not the first time Modi has turned to literature to deepen the India-Russia connect.
45:14At the 23rd India-Russia annual summit in December 2025,
45:19Modi gifted Putin a Russian copy of the Bhagavad Gita.
45:23But Putin is not the first world leader to receive a Tirukhural connect from Modi.
45:32Just two weeks ago, in Tashkint, Modi invoked Tirukhural's timeless wisdom
45:38while speaking about the depth of Tamil thought,
45:41even suggesting its translation into Uzbek.
45:47The Voluntary, Father ,
45:52As for a verse 2,
45:53According to all мира,
45:57All beings have to in which life are present,
46:01also local and the philosophy arecida,
46:07By doing the devotion too,
46:24Yes, yes, we will do it, we will do it.
46:42For Modi, Thirukurral is more than an ancient Tamil text.
46:48It is a bridge between Thiruvallavar's timeless wisdom and the modern world.
46:56And from Papua New Guinea to Uzbekistan to Russia, Modi's Thirukurral diplomacy is taking the words of Thiruvallavar far beyond
47:06India's shores.
47:09Pira Report, India Today.
Comments