PM Modi departs for South Africa to attend BRICS Summit; Eyes on possible meeting with Xi Jinping
This will also be the first in-person Brics Summit since 2019, and the meeting will be an opportunity to “review the progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping and identify future areas of activity.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, left for South Africa to participate in the much-awaited BRICS Summit. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the PM Modi left Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi at around 7 am IST and is likely to land at Johannesburg around 5.15 pm IST.
In his departure statement ahead of visiting South Africa, Modi said he is looking forward to holding bilateral meetings with some of the world leaders in Johannesburg. This will be the Indian prime minister's third visit to South Africa and will also mark the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between India and South Africa.
Prime Minister @narendramodi departs for his visit to South Africa 🇿🇦 to attend the 15th #BRICSSummit2023.
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) August 22, 2023
Further after his visit to South Africa, PM Modi will pay an official visit to Greece 🇬🇷 on 25 August 2023. #PMModiInSouthAfrica#PMModiInGreece pic.twitter.com/l4rXIFc0YM
During his visit, the PM Modi will also participate in the BRICS–Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue event that will be held as part of the BRICS Summit activities. PM Modi said that BRICS has been pursuing a solid cooperation agenda across diverse sectors, further adding that it has become a platform for discussing and reflecting on issues of concern for the entire Global South.
For unreserved, 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.
For unreserved, 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.
This will also be the first in-person Brics Summit since 2019, and the meeting will be an opportunity to “review the progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping and identify future areas of activity.
The tentative schedule of PM Modi in South Africa is:
3.55 pm - Arrival at Sandton Convention Centre
4.00 pm - BRICS Business Forum leaders’ dialogue
6.00 pm - Arrival at Summer Place for BRICS Leaders' Retreat
Ahead of the BRICS summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Monday said that India has a "positive intent" and an "open mind" for the expansion of the five-nation grouping. "We have a positive intent and an open mind when it comes to BRICS expansion," he said, as quoted by PTI.
All Eyes On Possible Meet With Xi Jinping Amid LAC Standoff
There was no official word from the Indian side whether the Chinese president will be among the leaders with whom Modi will hold talks. However, speculation about a Modi-Xi meeting has grown following a series of high-level contacts between India and China in recent weeks.
When asked about whether PM Modi will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Kwatra said that the schedule of the prime minister's bilateral meetings is being finalised. He also informed that the modalities for the inclusion of new members into the grouping are being discussed among the Sherpas. "I would not want to prejudge the outcome of the discussions," he added.
"Schedule is being decided", foreign secretary Kwatra on if any PM Modi, Chinese Prez Xi meet will happen in South Africa on the sidelines of BRICS summit https://t.co/6XsxbWSRsE pic.twitter.com/CPW07jmux1
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 21, 2023
PM Modi and President Xi had a brief encounter at a dinner during the G20 summit in Bali last November. If a bilateral meeting does take place between the two leaders, it will be their first since the India-China border standoff began in May 2020.
After BRICS Summit
Meanwhile, after attending the meeting, Modi will also travel to Greece. It will be the Indian prime minister's first visit to Greece in four decades.
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