Chinese President misses Delhi BRICS banquet following bilateral discussions
Chinese President Xi Jinping opted out of an exclusive banquet hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening. This high-profile gathering brought together global leaders at the BRICS Summit in Delhi. This trip represents his first visit to India in seven years, making his absence from the cultural celebration a major point of discussion in diplomatic circles.
Key absences noted
Sources indicated he likely retreated to his hotel to rest after a busy day of bilateral meetings with PM Modi and summit sessions. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed also missed the event because he departed for home earlier in the day.
Dignitaries gather at Bharat Mandapam
Russian President Vladimir Putin joined numerous other international heads of state at the grand dinner. Indian political figures arrived together in two buses, traveling directly from Parliament House to Bharat Mandapam. Key attendees included Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also participated, alongside prominent Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath, Devendra Fadnavis, Suvendu Adhikari, and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Exclusive culinary showcased
Guests experienced a rich showcase of Indian cuisine. The elaborate menu featured khandvi mille-feuille, khumb galouti, paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik, carrot-bean poriyal, and millet pulao. For dessert, dignitaries enjoyed Old Delhi fruit cream served with jalebi and traditional shahtoot phirni.
India scheduled the global summit for September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders from 11 member nations and 10 partner countries to discuss future economic and geopolitical cooperation. The evening was designed to foster goodwill among nations, though missing key figures certainly shifted the dynamic of the social event.
Image Courtesy: ANI
