Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Goa, will hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi on BRICS sidelines

Panaji: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Goa on Saturday to attend BRICS 2016 Summit.

The Chinese President was received by Union Minister VK Singh at Dabolim airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to welcome the Chinese President. "India is delighted to host President Xi Jinping for the@BRICS2016 Summit. May his visit further strengthen India-China relations," the PM said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Jinping before on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa.

The PM is likely to raise issues such as India's National Security Guard (NSG) membership bid and China blocking United Nations ban on JeM chief and Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar.

Ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to India, China yesterday had said it is "ready" for talks with India on its entry into the NSG but defended extending a hold on India's bid for a UN ban on Masood Azhar, saying Beijing is opposed to anyone making "political gains in the name of counter-terrorism".

While India has blamed one country, without naming China, for stalling its membership in the NSG, both the countries held talks recently to iron out differences.

The BRICS grouping consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.