New Delhi: Xi Skips Modi's Gala Dinner, Rests At Hotel; Opposition CMs Also Stay Away
It is normal for world leaders to skip the dinner at times and there is nothing to read between the lines: Reports
NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday night. It is learnt that President Xi took rest at his hotel during the time when the dinner was being hosted. China was represented by its foreign minister Wang Yi at the dinner. Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, who left for home immediately after attending the BRICS summit during the day, was also absent from the dinner.
Sources in the government said that it is normal for world leaders to skip the dinner at times and there is nothing to read between the lines. “China was well represented by its foreign minister and other leaders at the dinner,” sources said.
Earlier, in the morning, PM Modi asked Mr Xi if everything was fine with him as the Chinese leader struggled with the earphone while he was making his statement during the main leaders’ summit. Xi left for Beijing as soon as the summit ended on Sunday afternoon. “Is it OK,” Mr Modi asked twice and once Mr Xi nodded in affirmation, he went ahead with the speech.
President Xi left for Beijing immediately after the summit got over. The only bilateral meeting he held on the sidelines of the summit was that with Indian PM Mr Modi.
Among the notable absentees at the dinner were chief ministers from the opposition ruled states Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Punjab even as the entire cabinet of PM Modi and the CMs of BJP ruled states attended and shared their photos on social media.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim posted a video of him singing Kishore Kumar's famous number, 'Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat', from Hindi film Teen Deviyan. Mr Ibrahim sang this song in the hotel where he was staying along with a performer on piano. PM Ibrahim is a big fan of Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.
Sharing the video on his X handle, Mr Ibrahim wrote in Malay: "Guru mintak izin nyanyi kejap ok!" It translates to "Guru, allow me to sing a little bit, ok."
