As the BRICS Summit commenced in Kazan on Tuesday, attention is focused on a potential meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This summit, the first since BRICS expanded its membership in January 2024, comes at a critical time with global issues such as the Ukraine war and West Asia crisis set to dominate discussions.
While the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not officially confirmed the Modi-Xi bilateral talks, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hinted that Modi would hold several key meetings during his visit. The two leaders last met briefly on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa in 2023.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian kept the possibility open, stating, “We will keep you posted if anything comes up.” Xi’s participation was confirmed last week, with China emphasizing its commitment to strengthening ties within the Global South.
Notable attendees at the summit include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, recovering from an injury, will participate via video link. The leaders are expected to adopt the Kazan Declaration, which will set the future course for BRICS.
For Russian President Putin, the summit is a significant multilateral event as Russia continues to face Western sanctions due to the ongoing war with Ukraine. Putin has used the occasion to promote BRICS as a counterbalance to Western influence, calling for reforms in global governance and economic frameworks. He also proposed alternatives to the US dollar in international trade and the use of national digital currencies to bolster BRICS nations’ financial autonomy.
Prime Minister Modi’s participation is crucial in advocating for global multipolarity and pushing for reforms in institutions like the UN Security Council, the IMF, and the WTO. BRICS’ rapid expansion earlier this year, with new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, reflects the group’s growing global influence.
The summit will conclude on October 24, though PM Modi is scheduled to return to India a day earlier due to commitments at home.
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