PM Modi Departs for Kazan to Attend 16th BRICS Summit, Bilateral Talks on the Agenda

  NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Kazan, Russia, on Tuesday to attend the 16th BRICS Summit, marking his second visit to Russia this year. The two-day summit, held under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security,” will see discussions on global issues such as economic cooperation, climate change, and multilateral reforms. Strengthening India-Russia. Relations In a departure statement, PM Modi highlighted the importance of BRICS and India’s commitment to the group’s initiatives. “India values the close  cooperation within BRICS, which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue on issues concerning the global developmental agenda, reformed multilateralism, climate change, and economic cooperation,” he said. He also noted the role of BRICS in fostering resilient supply chains and promoting cultural and people-to-people connections.PM Modi’s visit is significant in reinforcing the strong bilateral ties between India and Russia. This marks his second visit to Russia in 2024, after attending the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in July. PM Modi remarked that his visit to Kazan would “further reinforce the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two nations. On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they are expected to discuss key issues including energy security, defense cooperation, and expanding trade partnerships. BRICS Expansion and Strategic Discussions. This year’s BRICS Summit marks the group’s first meeting since its expansion to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, broadening the forum’s global representation. Prime Minister Modi has welcomed the inclusivity brought about by BRICS’ expansion, which he believes will help advance the group’s agenda for the global good. “The expansion of BRICS has added to its inclusivity and its agenda for global development,” he added. The summit will provide a platform for the leaders of BRICS nations to assess the progress made in key areas and identify opportunities for future collaboration. The agenda will focus on expanding economic cooperation, promoting the use of national currencies in trade, and furthering the mission of sustainable development, including climate action under India’s LiFE initiative (Lifestyle for Environment). Potential Modi-Xi Bilateral Meeting In addition to his scheduled meeting with Putin, there is heightened anticipation surrounding a possible bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This speculation comes after the recent agreement between India and China on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Although Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri did not confirm the meeting, he indicated that various bilateral meetings are being planned, adding that “there are a number of requests for bilateral meetings, and we will update you on the bilateral as they evolve.”