Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday after a packed day of summit engagements and bilateral talks. Sources say he returned to his hotel to rest, following his long journey to New Delhi.Xi arrived in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon for the BRICS Summit and held a bilateral meeting with Modi before attending the summit proceedings. The two leaders discussed the future direction of India-China ties, with a focus on maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border, expanding trade and improving people-to-people exchanges.Xi’s absence from the dinner, hosted by Modi at Bharat Mandapam, was notable as the Chinese President was visiting India for the first time in seven years. Sources said his absence was not linked to any fresh diplomatic issue and suggested that he had returned to his hotel to take rest after the day’s engagements.Xi’s decision to skip the dinner came hours after his meeting with Modi, the first face-to-face engagement between the two leaders since Xi’s arrival in New Delhi. The meeting was closely watched amid a cautious improvement in India-China ties following the easing of the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control.Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other BRICS leaders attended the dinner. Union Ministers, chief ministers and other Indian dignitaries were also present.Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was another notable absentee, having left for home after attending the summit during the day.