New Delhi: India and China remain in touch to strengthen cooperation under Brics mechanism, with Beijing endorsing India’s ongoing presidency of group and Indian government appreciating China’s support for activities hosted by India under the mechanism. Chinese special envoy Zhai Jun, who was here last week for the West Asia meeting, also met with MEA secretary Neena Malhotra in New Delhi and stated that as major developing countries, China and India have always maintained communication over major international and regional issues. “China values the important role played by India as the rotating Brics presidency and hopes that this Brics consultation on the West Asia will send a strong voice on the regional situation and play a constructive role in achieving regional peace and stability,” Zhai said. According to a Chinese readout, Malhotra said that India values the important role played by China within the Brics mechanism. It also quoted Malhotra as saying that India is willing to work with Brics countries, including China, to jointly promote early de-escalation of regional tensions. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is expected in India for the Brics foreign ministers’ meeting. President Xi Jinping had offered China’s support for India’s Brics presidency in a meeting with PM Narendra Modi in Tianjin last year.Xi is expected to visit India later this year for the Brics summit. This will be his first visit to India since the deadly Galwan military clash in June 2020.
