Chinese President Xi Jinping skips BRICS gala dinner hosted by PM Modi
PTC News Desk: Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday for leaders participating in the BRICS Summit, representatives of partner countries and international organisations, according to sources.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, who left for the UAE after attending the summit earlier in the day, was also absent.
The reason for Xi’s absence was not immediately clear. However, a source said he may have returned to his hotel to rest.
Xi arrived in Delhi on Saturday afternoon, attended the BRICS Summit and held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi. His visit to India comes after a gap of seven years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other BRICS leaders attended the dinner. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also present.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the event along with several chief ministers, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Union ministers and chief ministers travelled in two buses from Parliament House to Bharat Mandapam, where the dinner was held.
Special menu at BRICS Dinner
The dinner menu featured dishes such as khandvi mille-feuille, khumb galouti, paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik, carrot-bean poriyal and millet pulao.
Desserts included Old Delhi fruit cream with jalebi and shahtoot phirni.
India is hosting the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13. Leaders from 11 member countries and 10 partner countries, along with representatives of international organisations, are attending the summit.
While several BRICS leaders and Indian dignitaries attended the dinner, Xi Jinping and the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince were among the notable absentees.
- PTC NEWS
