BRICS 2016: PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping's bilateral talks underway

Pic courtesy: Vikas Swarup

Panaji: Delegation level talk between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping is underway as the latter arrived in Goa today to attend BRICS 2016 Summit. 

PM Modi on Saturday took to social media to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping as he arrived at Panaji's Dabolim airport. "India is delighted to host President Xi Jinping for the @BRICS2016 Summit. May his visit further strengthen India-China relations," he tweeted.

President Xi Jinping was received by Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh and received a red carpet welcome after he got off the aircraft at the airport.

According to reports, during the bilateral talks, PM Modi 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 had on Friday 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.