PM Modi, President Xi Jinping to hold bilateral meet on Oct 15

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 15 ahead of the BRICS Summit on in Goa.

China on Monday said it was 'ready' for talks with India on the latter's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

However, it has defended its stand on extending a hold on New Delhi's bid for a United Nations ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar.

Responding to a question whether any progress can be expected on the issue of India's admission into the NSG in the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said the NSG rules stipulate consensus among the members to admit new ones.

Stating that China and India have maintained good communication on the issue, he said that Beijing was ready to continue consultations with New Delhi to build consensus.

Beijing is opposed to anyone making political gains in the name of counter-terrorism, he said while answering to a question on criticism about China's move to halt India's bid for a ban on Azhar.

The BRICS Summit is scheduled to begin from October 17.

Earlier in June, Prime Minister Modi had urged the Chinese Premier to consider India's NSG case favourably, but China rebuffed India's request at the NSG plenary in Seoul.