India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war : PM Modi at BRICS
Prime Minister Modi presents India’s position at BRICS Summit
Kazan (Russia) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit that India supports dialogue and diplomacy rather than war. He emphasized the need to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict through peaceful negotiations. Key leaders from BRICS nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, participated in the summit.
PM Modi said,
1. Just as we have collectively overcome challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, we are certainly capable of creating new opportunities to ensure a safe, strong, and prosperous future for generations to come.
2. We need united and strong support from all to combat terrorism and its financing. There is no room for double standards in this serious matter. We need to take proactive steps to prevent radicalisation among the youth in our countries.
3. We should work together on the long-pending frameworks for a comprehensive convention on transnational terrorism in the United Nations. Similarly, we need to develop global regulations for cybersecurity and secure artificial intelligence.
4. It is essential to make timely progress in reforming global institutions like the United Nations Security Council, multilateral development banks, and the World Trade Organisation. As we advance our efforts in BRICS, we must ensure that this organisation does not develop an image of a body seeking to replace global institutions.
India ready to welcome new countries in BRICS
Prime Minister Modi said that India is ready to welcome new countries as partners in BRICS. Decisions in this regard should be made by consensus, respecting the views of the founding members of BRICS. All members and partner countries should adhere to the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and processes adopted at the Johannesburg summit.
Putin jokingly tells Modi, ‘We don’t need interpreters’
A bilateral meeting was held between India and Russia before the BRICS summit. At this time, Russian President Vladimir Putin humorously told PM Modi, ‘Our relations are very good and you understand our conversation without an interpreter’. This led to hearty laughter between Modi and Putin.
Bilateral discussions between Modi and Xi Jinping
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in bilateral discussions lasting nearly 50 minutes. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and officials from both countries were present. Various issues were discussed, but the specifics of the outcomes remain unclear. This was the first formal discussion between the two leaders in nearly five years, following tensions in India-China relations after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.