Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his visit to Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday by attending the restricted and open sessions of the 16th BRICS Summit as well as a long-awaited bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. On his way back home, PM Modi also met with the Presidents of the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
He reviewed with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev progress in bilateral cooperation, including trade, economic, health, connectivity, capacity building, and digital technologies. He underscored the potential for stronger growth of investments, economic ties, and exploration of cooperation opportunities, particularly in areas that have developmental relevance to the countries but may be less topical globally. In regional and global fora, the two leaders agreed to work together in strengthening the voice of the Global South.
"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 after the meeting.
In fact, he looked at the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and "positively evaluated" it in a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. "Glad to have met my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, he said.".
These two back-to-back meets happened immediately after Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had significant discussions when they met for the first time at the delegation level in nearly five years. At the meeting, PM Modi said that for India-China ties to regain a positive trajectory and be sustained, they have to be based on three mutuals: mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity.
In a statement earlier in the day, while speaking to the BRICS leaders, PM Modi urged firm support from all members of the grouping on the issue of terrorism, insisting there could be no "double standards" on this serious matter. "We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war. And just like we were able to overcome a challenge like Covid together, we are certainly able to create new opportunities to ensure a secure, strong, and prosperous future for future generations," said PM Modi in remarks during the closed plenary of the 16th BRICS Summit.
On Tuesday, the PM attended two bilateral meetings straight after he landed in Kazan-Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "This Summit is special because we welcomed the new BRICS members. This forum has immense potential to make our planet better and more sustainable," PM Modi said before leaving for New Delhi on Wednesday evening.
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