India highly values cooperation among the BRICS which has emerged as an important forum for dialogue and discussion on many important issues affecting the global development agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.
Modi made the comments in a statement before embarking on a two-day trip to the Russian city of Kazan to attend the 16th summit of the BRICS group. “The expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year increased its integration and programs that will benefit the whole world,” he said.
Hosted by Russia, the conference is seen as an attempt by non-Western countries to project their power amid the conflict in Ukraine and the tense situation in West Asia.
Modi will hold a series of bilateral meetings including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the periphery of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).
It will be the first conference of this group after it was extended from its conference held in Johannesburg last year. “India greatly appreciates the cooperation between the BRICS which has emerged as an important forum for discussion and dialogue on issues affecting the global development agenda, multilateralism, climate change, economic cooperation, building strong supply chains, promoting cultural and people-to-people interaction, among others ,” Modi said in his departure statement.
Modi said his visit to Kazan will further strengthen the ‘Special Strategic Partnership and Privileges’ between India and Russia. The prime minister visited Moscow in July where he held summit talks with President Putin.
“Building on the annual summit held in July 2024 in Moscow, my visit to Kazan will strengthen the special and special relationship between India and Russia,” Modi said.
“I am looking forward to meeting other leaders from BRICS,” he said.
In the ‘X’ letter, Modi said he was looking forward to wide-ranging discussions on many topics at the summit. BRIC, as an official group, began after the meeting of the leaders of Russia, India and China in St.
Petersburg in 2006. It was agreed to expand BRIC to BRICS by including South Africa in 2010. Last year’s expansion was the first such operation since 2010. New members include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.