The summit is the first since the expansion of the group to nine members, with Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE joining this year …reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for Russia on Monday to attend the 16th BRICS Summit on October 22-23 and also hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the group’s members and other invitees. This marks PM Modi’s second visit to Russia this year.
The summit is the first since the expansion of the group to nine members, with Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE joining this year after being offered membership in the 2023 summit in South Africa. Argentina and Saudi Arabia were also invited but the former declined after a change of government, while the latter is yet to respond.
Modi will visit Russia from October 22-23 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to attend the 16th BRICS Summit, being held in Kazan, under the chairmanship of Russia, the MEA said.
The summit, themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”, will provide an important platform for leaders to discuss key global issues, it said, adding that the Summit will offer a valuable opportunity to assess the progress of initiatives launched by BRICS and to identify potential areas for future collaboration.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from BRICS member countries and invited leaders in Kazan, the MEA said.
As per Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, the BRICS summit in Kazan will host leaders from 24 countries and delegations from a total of 32 nations, making it the largest foreign policy event ever held in Russia.
Apart from the main BRICS meeting, there will be meetings in the BRICS+ format on the theme “BRICS and the Global South: Building the Future of the World Together” involving representatives from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
While all the top leaders of all member countries – seven Presidents and two Prime Ministers – will attend, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and leaders of various aspirant countries, including Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and others.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev said that Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit is important, because he will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and can share his insights on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Notably, Modi visited Russia in June, right after taking office for the third time. Following that, he also visited Ukraine the following month.
India has emphasised the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace in the Ukraine conflict that started in February 2022.
India has also expressed its willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace. Sachdev said, “Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the BRICS summit can turn out to be something very interesting. One, of course, the PM will be participating in the BRICS platform, wherein all BRICS countries are there. The various agendas of BRICS countries will be discussed. But apart from that, there are two bilaterals, which are very interesting to see.”
Putin praises Bollywood
Putin praised ‘Bollywood’ and said that Indian films are most popular in the country in a media briefing ahead of the BRICS Summit.
On being asked if Russia will give incentives to BRICS member states for shooting films in the country, Russian President Putin said, “If we look at BRICS member states, I think in this country Indian films are most popular. We have a special TV channel with Indian movies being shown on it round the clock. We have a lot of interest in Indian films. We hold the BRICS film festival. This year Moscow International Film Festival introduces films from BRICS nations. We are positive that if Indian films are interested then we will find some common ground and promote them in Russia. Pharmaceuticals will also be a good undertaking. I am ready to talk to the Prime Minister of India and we will come to terms and there will be no difficulty…”
Putin said that he would talk to his ‘friend’, Modi about this proposal and was confident that the two would come to terms. “I’m ready to talk with our friend, the Prime Minister of India when he arrives in Kazan. I’m sure we will come to terms 100 per cent. No difficulties, I observe there… It would be fascinating to see not only Indian films but those featuring BRICS countries’ actors representing their cultures, an Indian actor, a Chinese and Ethiopian actor. Well, you know, we discussed it with the colleagues from BRICS nations that we should organize a festival of theatrical art and we established the cinema academy,” he said.
