Indian, Chinese NSAs hold meeting on BRICS NSAs meet sidelines

Beijing [China], July 27 (ANI): Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in the first high-level meeting between the two sides since the military stand-off in the Doklam tri-junction region that broke out last month. The meeting came on the sidelines of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) NSAs meeting. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a brief read-out on the meeting, said Yang "elaborated China's position on bilateral issues and major problems", which is being seen as an apparent reference to the standoff in the Doklam area. Meanwhile, China's Xinhua news agency reported that the talks between Doval and Yang included bilateral relations, international and regional issues and multilateral affairs. It reported that Yang also met other counterparts from South Africa and Brazil. Doval, who arrived in Beijing yesterday, will also call on Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow evening. The seventh meeting of BRICS senior representatives on security issues is being held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated its precondition of "meaningful dialogue," which is that Indian troops should withdraw from Doklam. (ANI)