PM Modi Pauses BRICS Summit Speech To Check On Xi Jinping, Asks ‘Is It Okay?’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi halted his speech at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi to inquire about the well-being of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was visibly troubled during his address. Modi turned towards Xi, who had just arrived in India for the summit for the first time in seven years. He asked the Chinese President's translator, "Is it okay?"

He repeated the inquiry shortly after. It was unclear what had caused Xi's discomfort. Following a brief moment of silence, Xi nodded, allowing Modi to continue his remarks. Modi and Xi engaged in bilateral talks at the summit on September 12. They discussed India-China relations, border peace, trade, market access, and cultural exchanges.

The leaders emphasized mutual respect, sensitivity, and interest in their bilateral ties, and agreed to address border disputes amicably. Xi characterized China and India as partners, not rivals, and proposed a long-term approach to bilateral relations. Xi declined to attend the gala dinner hosted by Modi for BRICS leaders. The Chinese President reportedly returned to his hotel to rest.

The final day of the BRICS Summit saw Modi outlining the Indian presidency's four pillars - resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. He highlighted the group's shared vision and warned of the global impact of rising tensions, citing pandemics, climate disasters, and supply chain disruptions. BRICS also agreed on an Integrated Early Warning System to enhance preparedness for infectious diseases and formulated guidelines for disaster management.