The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that a wide range of issues were discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Addressing his bi‑weekly press briefing on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Prime Minister emphasized India’s concerns and stressed that both sides must remain sensitive to each other’s core concerns. He underlined that this approach should be guided by the “three mutuals” — mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual sensitivity.
On the recent attack on the Panama‑flagged commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman, Jaiswal said India strongly condemns targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region. He added that India has urged for the earliest restoration of free and safe navigation and uninterrupted flow of commerce through international waterways.
The vessel was carrying 14 Indian crew members. According to reports, 13 have been rescued, while one Indian seafarer remains missing. Search and rescue operations are continuing with assistance from Omani authorities, and the Indian Embassy is in close contact with them.
Responding to a question on Pakistan’s announcement of a reward of 70 lakh Pakistani rupees for Jaish‑e‑Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, Jaiswal dismissed the move as a “gimmick,” noting that India has seen similar attempts in the past. He said Pakistan must take concrete action rather than making announcements “of no consequence.”
On energy cooperation with Russia, Jaiswal highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the two countries in the nuclear sector. He cited the Kudankulam project as a successful example of India–Russia partnership in the energy field.
