Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi after completing two days of a "highly productive" visit to Russia, where he participated in the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. He also met several world leaders during the sideline of the BRICS Summit on Wednesday. Among those were Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Ministry of External Affairs published: "PM @narendramodi wraps up an impactful visit to Kazan and emplanes for New Delhi", on Wednesday on X. He described the BRICS Summit held in Russia's Kazan as "very productive". He thanked President Vladimir Putin, the people of Russia and their government for their hospitality.
PM Modi took to X to share glimpses of his visit to Russia. During his visit, PM Modi addressed two sessions of the BRICS Summit held in Kazan under Russia's chairmanship. While sharing the video on X, PM Modi said, "The BRICS Summit in Kazan was very productive. Had the opportunity to discuss diverse issues and meet various world leaders. I thank President Putin, the Russian people, and the government for their hospitality. Here are the highlights.
"This morning, after finishing breakfast, I went back to bedroom. I opened the veil that connects my past and the present. Today I was rehearsing and had a good practice. In its new form, BRICS is an economy bigger than $30 trillion. BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance have played a special role in increasing our economic cooperation.
The consensus reached within BRICS this year on WTO reforms, trade facilitation in agriculture, resilience supply chains, e-commerce, and special economic zones will strengthen our economic cooperation. Among all these initiatives, we should also focus on the interests of small and medium-scale industries.".
A set of pleasant announcements starting with the BRICS Startup Forum proposed in India's chairmanship in 2021 that is scheduled to be launched this year. Logistics and supply chain connectivity between the BRICS countries stand raised with initiatives like the Railway Research Network given by India. In a video shared by PM Modi on X, he could be seen participating in the BRICS Summit in Kazan.
The video showed PM Modi meeting several world leaders, including UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. On Wednesday, PM Modi also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Kazan. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Happy to have interacted with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Kazan."
He also held a meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Kazan where he discussed how to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two nations. "Had a wonderful meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Kazan. Discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation between India and Uzbekistan, including trade and cultural linkages," PM Modi posted on X. PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan today. The meeting is the first formal structured interaction between the two leaders in five years.
The meeting comes after both countries agreed to resume regular patrolling along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. After the side-line meeting with Chinese President Jinping, PM Modi said, "India-China relations are important to the people of our countries and for regional and global peace and stability." While sharing all the information about meeting the UAE President, PM Modi wrote, "Happy to have met my brother, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan."
At a time when uncertainties and challenges are galloping before the world, from conflicts to adverse climatic impacts, and further on, to cyber threats, greater expectations come upon BRICS. The Prime Minister said people-centric measures are needed in the group to address such issues. PM Modi called for the immediate adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations. He appealed to the BRICS countries to play a leadership role in holding the fort for restructuring the New World Order itself, beginning with reforms in global governance. He reminded the group that India had hosted the Voice of Global South Summits during its G20 Presidency and that it had a responsibility to address the anxieties of the Global South first. PM Modi shows that the New Development Bank, regional presence, including GIFT City, India, has generated new values and impacts.
However, while emphasizing the BRICS activities in facilitating economic growth, he highlighted that its action points on trade facilitation in agriculture, resilient supply chains, e-commerce, and Special Economic Zones have opened to new prospects. He identified the need for small and medium-scale industries. He added that the BRICS Startup Forum India is initiating and will be launched this year, would add significant value to the BRICS economic agenda.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister elaborated on some of India's recent green initiatives, which included the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LIFE, and the Green Credit initiative announced at COP28. He also invited BRICS nations to join the initiatives. Tuesday: PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Kazan.
PM Modi invited Putin to visit India next year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including political, economic, defence, energy, and people-to-people ties, the Prime Minister's Office said in a press statement. In a post on X, PM Modi said: Had an excellent meeting with President Putin. The bond between India and Russia is deep-rooted. Our talks focused on how we could add further zest to our bilateral cooperation in multiple fields. "
This was their second encounter this year as the two heads of state had already met in Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit in July 2024. PM Modi also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and deliberated upon how to expand bilateral cooperation in future-oriented sectors.
He met the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. During this meeting, he reviewed the entire gamut of relations between the two countries and discussed ways to deepen ties in futuristic sectors, said PM Modi on X. PM Modi visited Russia for the second time this year. In July, he had visited Moscow for the annual India-Russia Summit.
