- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left for South Africa to participate in the much-awaited BRICS Summit.
- During his visit, the Indian Prime Minister will also participate in the BRICS–Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue event that will be held as part of the BRICS Summit activities.
- No mention of a bilateral meeting with the Chinese President
- The BRICS is a group of countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
- BRICS Sherpa said that several issues including the next expansion of BRICS on the agenda and the use of national currency for trading and economic activity amongst the BRICS member countries.
- it’s the third time when Prime Minister Modi is visiting South Africa and this visit also marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between India and South Africa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, left for South Africa to participate in the much-awaited BRICS Summit.
Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the bloc has been pursuing a strong cooperation agenda across various sectors and added New Delhi underscores it has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on issues of concern for the entire Global South, including development imperatives and reform of the multilateral system.
During his visit, the Indian Prime Minister will also participate in the BRICS–Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue event that will be held as part of the BRICS Summit activities. “I look forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this event,” said the statement. However, it did not mention whether PM Modi will hold any bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The BRICS is a group of countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — and the word was coined by Jim O’Neill, an economist working with American company Goldman Sachs, to highlight the strong growth potential of these countries and how they could dominate the global economy by 2050.
Meanwhile, while speaking to a news agency about India’s expectations, BRICS Sherpa Dammu Ravi said that several issues including the next expansion of BRICS on the agenda and the use of national currency for trading and economic activity amongst the BRICS member countries.
“Currently, we cannot say which country can be part of the expansion. It will be decided after a thorough discussion by all the leaders and the country that has to be brought into BRICS.” As far as the inclusion of national currency in trading is concerned, the officer said, it is not new and it has already happened.
From India’s point of view, Ravi said, “Development dimension and issues that are so crucial and critical for the Global South, will be part of the discussion in the BRICS Summit, scheduled on August 22-24.
Noting that it’s the third time when Prime Minister Modi is visiting South Africa and that this visit also marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between India and South Africa, the officer said there are lots of ideas Prime Minister Modi’s are being discussed in the BRICS meetings.”
(With inputs from agencies)
