Will Modi, Xi meet on sidelines of SCO summit?

By Our Special Correspondent

There are reports in the international media that Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan next month. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its sidelines.

However, official confirmation from the two neighboring countries is still awaited. Earlier it was reported that the chances of Xi Jinping attending the meeting were slim as the leader has not left China since the outbreak of Covid-19.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Xi Jinping may attend in person and hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Pakistan, India and Turkey. Officials, however, have warned that the Chinese leader's plans may change and he may simply attend.

However, Putin is reportedly keen on an in-person summit in Samarkand, which will focus on the security and human rights situation in Afghanistan, among other things. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Khan will go to Uzbekistan for the summit.

Although the demarcation process with China in eastern Ladakh is still ongoing, both sides agree that the military standoff that began in May 2020 has been resolved on several points of contention.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the two countries have maintained smooth communication on the border standoff and that the talks have been effective. The remark came in the wake of the 16th round of India-China Corps Commander-level meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side last month.

India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May 2020 over encroachments by the Chinese Army in several areas, including the Finger area, Galvan Valley, Hot Springs and Kongrung Nala.

The situation worsened after violent clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020. Negotiations have led to disengagement from some areas, including Pangong Tso and the north and south banks of Galwan, but some points of friction remain.