September 1, 2017 7:39 PM

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Not possible to pre-empt what PM Modi will speak during BRICS Summit in China: MEA

Ministry of External Affairs has said that it is not possible to pre-empt what Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak during deliberations at the BRICS Summit in China. <br/><br/>Replying to a query on China opposing discussion on Pakistan and terrorism issue, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi that it is a leader's intervention and he is free to speak whatever he wants. However, whether that issue will find a place in the final document is a different thing because that is finalised through consensus.<br/><br/>Mr Kumar said that India's position on terrorism is very clear and it has condemned it in strongest words in all forms and manifestations. India has also raised the issue at several fora.<br/><br/>Replying to another query about bilateral meetings of Mr Modi with Chinese President XI Jinping on the sidelines of the Summit, Mr Kumar said, it is natural to have bilateral meets on sidelines of multilateral fora. He said, at this stage, it is still developing and there are several factors involved. <br/> <br/>On the participation of five guest countries in the BRICS meeting in China, the Spokesperson said, it is an outreach of the BRICS and not expansion. Stating that in the last BRICS meeting in Goa, members of BIMSTEC were invited and it is for the host country to decide whom to invite as part of outreach programme. <br/><br/>China has invited Egypt, Kenya, Tajikistan, Mexico and Thailand as guest countries for the upcoming BRICS summit under its 'BRICS Plus' approach.<br/>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for a two nation four day tour to China and Myanmar on Sunday. In China, Mr Modi will attend the 9th BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – Summit in Xiamen in China. <br/><br/>On Tuesday afternoon the Prime Minister will embark on the second leg of his tour to Myanmar. It is Mr Modi's first bilateral visit to neighboring country with which India has ties of kinship and culture.

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