The viral image showing Indian Prime Minister Modi presenting a portrait of himself to Chinese President Xi Jinping is not from the 2026 BRICS Summit. It is an old photograph dating back to 2019.
Thai PBS Verify Source Check: Thai PBS Verify has traced the source of this disinformation to X
Thai PBS Verify has discovered an account on X sharing an image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presenting a souvenir to Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with the following caption:
“Modi the old immortal, during the BRICS summit, actually turned his own portrait into a gift and presented it to Grandpa Xi.
Grandpa Xi took one look and was stunned on the spot, managing only an awkward chuckle or two to express thanks.
This wave of narcissistic maneuvering by the old immortal was way too bold—does he think he’s the only world leader who looks good on camera?
Gotta say, this gift was harder to accept than the border issues. ”
The post garnered 16,100 views, 103 reactions, and 45 comments.
Is the image truly of the Indian Prime Minister presenting a gift to Xi Jinping?
Thai PBS Verify used the keyword search “Modi Gifted Xi Jinping” and found a news report dated Oct 12, 2019, titled Mamallapuram Summit: What PM Modi Gifted Xi Jinping On Last Day Of Informal Summit from the NDTV website, which stated that “The Prime Minister later gifted the silk shawl to Xi, made by weavers of a Coimbatore based society.”
Translated using Google Translate, which states: The Prime Minister subsequently handed over the silk shawl to Xi, a piece meticulously woven by artisans belonging to a Coimbatore-based textile society.
Subsequently, using the keyword search ‘Modi Gifted Xi Jinping,’ Thai PBS Verify found an article published by The Hindu on October 12, 2019, titled ‘Modi gifts handwoven silk portrait to Xi Jinping,’ which states:
“In return, Xi Jinping presented a porcelain commemorative item featuring a portrait of Modi as a reciprocal gift.”
Why has this image resurfaced online? ?
On September 12, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Xi Jinping of China met for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The leaders reviewed bilateral relations, committing to a long-term vision based on mutual respect, sensitivity, and interests, while stressing that differences must not become disputes. Discussions covered border peace, a fair resolution to the boundary question, enhancement of cultural and economic ties, and the mitigation of trade imbalances and supply chain challenges. Furthermore, they agreed to broaden regional and global cooperation, with Prime Minister Modi expressing gratitude for China’s support during India’s 2026 BRICS presidency.
What is the actual truth?
Verified by Thai PBS Verify: The circulated photo is out of context and unrelated to the 2026 BRICS meetings. It actually dates back to an informal summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held in Mamallapuram, India, on October 12, 2019.
According to an NDTV report quoting the Press Trust of India, PM Modi gave a large handwoven silk shawl to Xi Jinping. The shawl had a golden portrait of Xi on it and was made by weavers from a cooperative in Coimbatore. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping gave a porcelain souvenir featuring a portrait of Modi back to the Indian Prime Minister as a return gift.
Meanwhile, the meeting between Modi and Xi Jinping on September 12, 2026, took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. According to information from the official website of the Prime Minister of India, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, maintaining peace along the border, resolving the boundary question, trade and economic ties, as well as cooperation on regional and global issues. However, there was no mention of Modi gifting his portrait to Xi Jinping.
In short, the viral photo doesn’t show Modi giving his own portrait to Xi Jinping at the 2026 BRICS summit. It’s actually an old picture from 2019, and the item with Modi’s picture on it was a gift from Xi Jinping to Modi, not the other way around.
Verification Process
- Verified via Keywords: A keyword search for “Modi Gifted Xi Jinping” led to the article “Mamallapuram Summit: What PM Modi Gifted Xi Jinping On Last Day Of Informal Summit.” Records indicate that Modi presented a Coimbatore silk shawl to Xi Jinping, not a painting of his own likeness.
- Keyword Verification: A keyword search for “Modi Gifted Xi Jinping” pointed to an article titled “Modi gifts handwoven silk portrait to Xi Jinping,” published on October 12, 2019. The report specifies that “Xi Jinping presented a porcelain commemorative item featuring a portrait of Modi as a reciprocal gift.”
The Impact of This Misinformation
- It misleads the public regarding the meeting between the Indian and Chinese leaders by linking a 2019 photograph to the 2026 BRICS Summit.
- The claim distorts the souvenir exchange between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping by swapping the roles of the donor and the recipient.
- Such misinformation could negatively influence the understanding and assessment of India-China relations.
- Spreading information without checking its origin may fuel the circulation of inaccurate details and lead to widespread misuse or citation of false claims.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Always verify the date and location of images or events before believing or sharing them, especially those involving prominent figures or international events.
- Use reverse image search to check a photo and see when it was actually taken or shared in the past.
- Verify and match the information against credible or official outlets before sharing it with others.
- Should information prove false, cease sharing and inform others of the facts to curb the spread of misinformation.
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