Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday departed for a two-day visit to Kazan, a city in Russia, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to attend the 16th BRICS Summit.
This is PM Modi’s second trip to Russia this year, following a bilateral summit in Moscow in July.
Modi’s visit to Russia in July marked his first foreign trip after assuming office as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term.
‘Look forward to extensive discussions, meeting various leaders’
Before his departure on Tuesday, PM Modi, in a post on X, said that he is looking forward to extensive discussions on a wide range of subjects during the BRICS Summit.
The Prime Minister also said that he is looking forward to meeting various leaders at the BRICS Summit taking place in Russia’s Kazan from October 22-24, themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.”
The Summit begins on Tuesday (October 22), with the main discussions set for Wednesday.
“Leaving for Kazan, Russia, to take part in the BRICS Summit. India attaches immense importance to BRICS, and I look forward to extensive discussions on a wide range of subjects. I also look forward to meeting various leaders there,” PM Modi said.
During his Russia visit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from BRICS member nations.
The Prime Minister is also expected to hold a bilateral talk with Putin during which both the leaders are expected to deliberate on the conflict in Ukraine.
In his departure statement, PM Modi said, “India values the close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on issues concerning the global developmental agenda, reformed multilateralism, climate change, economic cooperation, building resilient supply chains, promoting cultural and people to people connect, among others.”
“The expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year has added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi also said that his visit will further reinforce Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.
“Building upon the Annual Summit held in July 2024 in Moscow, my visit to Kazan will further reinforce the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia,” he said.
This year marks the inaugural summit after the BRICS’ expansion last year.
Russia, under its chairmanship this year, has proposed more than 250 BRICS meetings/events. Two major activities include the integration of the invited countries as full members of BRICS as well as further development of the BRICS partner country model, and a list of prospective partner countries to be reported by the next Summit.
The grouping, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (added in 2010), has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
With inputs from agencies.
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Modi departs for Kazan with eyes on India’s ties with Russia, Brics expansion
