New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the annual two-day summit of the five-nation grouping BRICS starting today virtually following an invitation by Chinese President Xi Jinping. This year China is hosting the summit in its capacity as its chair of the grouping. The BRICS comprising five nations -Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa bring together the largest developing countries in the world. These countries represent 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are also set to attend the summit. “At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the 14th BRICS Summit hosted by China in virtual format on June 23 and 24. This includes a high-level dialogue on global development with guest countries on June 24,” the MEA said in a statement on Tuesday. According to IST, the meet is scheduled for 5 pm today.
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What is the theme of the 14th BRICS Summit?
The theme of the summit is “Promoting High-Quality BRICS Partnership, Beginning a New Era for Global Development”. At the same time, leaders of BRICS countries and leaders of emerging markets and developing countries will participate in the high-level talks on global development in Beijing on June 24.
What is on the agenda of BRICS Sumit?
“Discussions during the 14th BRICS Summit are expected to cover intra-BRICS cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, trade, health, traditional medicine, environment, science and technology, and innovation, agriculture, technical and vocational education & training, and MSMEs,” the MEA said. The discussions are also likely to focus on issues including reform of the multilateral system, combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and global economic recovery, among other issues.
India has virtually chaired the BRICS Summit in 2021. It was the third time India hosted the summit. PM Modi chaired the summit for the second time after having chaired the Goa Summit in 2016.