New Delhi is gearing up for the upcoming BRICS summit, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s posters welcoming world leaders prominently displayed throughout the city. Heavy security measures are in place, including strict traffic restrictions, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has already arrived for the meeting of the 11-member bloc. The summit is expected to address significant issues, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as discussions on enhancing economic cooperation among member countries.
The Russian leader and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, with trade and economic ties expected to feature prominently. Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been warming again recently, with flights, visas, and high-level contacts gradually being restored. “One should converse only with the virtuous, act in concert only with the virtuous. This includes South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, while the UAE is expected to send Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in place of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also visiting India after six years, following a chill in bilateral relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes that killed 20 Indians and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers, is also expected to meet PM Modi on the sidelines of the two-day meeting. Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, said that during the 2-day summit, there is full confidence that the conference will feature positive and meaningful discussions on various issues, with aspirations for global welfare. 7:30 pm: Gala Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister
FOLLOW LIVE UPDATE During the BRICS Summit, the leaders will exchange views on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional matters of mutual importance, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous,” he said.
