Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefly paused his speech at the Brics Summit on Saturday after Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to be uncomfortable. Modi turned to the translator accompanying Xi and asked, 'Is it okay?' The incident occurred between the 4:30- and 5-minute marks of the speech, as captured by Doordarshan. The reason for Xi's discomfort was not immediately clear, though it may have been related to the microphone or translation. No official reaction from China was reported.

During their 40-minute bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, Modi and Xi agreed that India and China should take a strategic and long-term view of their relationship. Xi emphasized the hard-won momentum in bilateral ties, built on institutional exchanges, expanding cooperation, and growing trade. Modi welcomed the 'steady progress' but stressed that peace and tranquillity in border areas would remain essential for continued development. The meeting marked their first on Indian soil in seven years and their third bilateral interaction in two years, following meetings in Kazan in 2024 and Tianjin last year.

Xi reiterated that India and China were partners, not rivals, though the Indian readout did not include that formulation. Modi raised concerns about India's trade deficit with China and called for greater predictability in supply chains and market access. The two sides discussed structural trade imbalances, supply chains, and economic cooperation. Since the 2024 Kazan meeting, which ended the eastern Ladakh border standoff, three rounds of talks between the Special Representatives of India and China have taken place. The latest talks resulted in agreement to work towards an early and substantial outcome on boundary delimitation and border management.

The leaders also noted progress in people-to-people relations and stressed the need to promote cultural exchanges, business ties, and greater mobility. Modi highlighted the 'three mutuals'—mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest—as guiding principles. They agreed to expand common ground on regional and global issues and cooperate in addressing shared challenges. Xi called for a more rational and forward-looking strategic assessment of bilateral relations, win-win cooperation, mutual respect, and inclusive multilateral cooperation.

Xi did not attend the gala dinner hosted by Modi for Brics leaders, partner countries, and international representatives. The reason for his absence was not immediately known, though a source suggested he returned to his hotel to rest after a busy day. The same source noted that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed also left for home after the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Brics leaders attended the event, along with Union ministers and chief ministers. The dinner menu featured Indian dishes such as khandvi mille-feuille, paneer lababdar, and millet pulao, with desserts including Old Delhi fruit cream and shahtoot phirni.

No official statement from China or the Indian government explained Xi's absence from the dinner. The event took place on the second day of the Brics Summit, which is being hosted in New Delhi from September 12-13, with leaders from 11 member countries and 10 partner countries attending.