BRICS summit: Narendra Modi leaves for Brazil

July 13, 2014 09:50 am | Updated November 16, 2021 07:01 pm IST - New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left New Delhi to attend the BRICS summit in Brazil on July 15 and 16. File photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left New Delhi to attend the BRICS summit in Brazil on July 15 and 16. File photo

Projecting a nuanced foreign policy approach of the new government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India will discuss at the BRICS Summit this week efforts to address regional crisis and security threats to restore a climate of peace while advancing global economic stability.

In a departure statement before leaving for Berlin en route Fortaleza in Brazil for his first multi-lateral engagement with global leaders, he also said that India looks forward to the BRICS initiative for setting up the New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

“The Summit theme, “Inclusive Growth; Sustainable Development”, will enable to shape the post-2015 Development Agenda being discussed in the United Nations, he said.”

The BRICS Development Bank with a corpus of USD 100 million will fund projects in a number of countries and other developing countries. India along with China are in contention for establishing its headquarters either in New Delhi or in Shanghai.

Mr. Modi is visiting Brazil at the invitation of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to attend the Sixth BRICS Summit being held in Fortaleza and Brasilia on 15-16 July.

The Prime Minister noted that the meeting is taking place at a time of political turmoil, conflict and human crisis in several parts of the world.

There is also persisting weaknesses and unrest in the global economy. Many emerging economies have experienced a slowdown which has increased the challenge of pursuing inclusive and economic development, he said.

“I look at the BRICS Summit as an opportunity to discuss with my BRICS partners how we can contribute to international efforts to address regional crises, address security threats and restore a climate of peace and stability in the world,” he said.

“I also look forward to our discussions to further advance intra-BRICS economic cooperation and our collective efforts to advance global economic stability and prosperity.

In particular, I look forward to the successful conclusion of major BRICS initiatives, like the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, which have seen significant progress since their launch in New Delhi in 2012,” he said.

The Prime Minister said these initiatives will support growth and stability in BRICS and also benefit other developing countries.

I look at the BRICS Summit as an opportunity to discuss with my BRICS partners how we can contribute to international efforts to address regional crises, address security threats and restore a climate of peace and stability in the world.

He said India attaches high importance to the BRICS forum for promoting global economic growth, peace and stability.

“The meeting in Brazil will usher in the second cycle of BRICS Summits. We meet at a time of political turmoil, conflict and humanitarian crisis in several parts of the world, and persisting weakness and risks in the global economy. Many emerging economies have experienced a slowdown, which has increased the challenge of pursuing inclusive and sustainable economic development,” Mr. Modi said.

The Summit theme, “Inclusive Growth; Sustainable Development”, will enable to shape the post-2015 Development Agenda being discussed in the United Nations, he said.

Noting that the Summit will also be an occasion for his first meetings as Prime Minister with the leaders of important global partners -- Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa, he said, “I look forward to meaningful meetings with them to intensify bilateral relations and exchange views on global and regional developments.”

The Summit will also afford an opportunity to interact with a number of leaders of South American countries at a meeting being hosted by Brazil.

Observing that India has traditionally enjoyed close, cordial and mutually beneficial ties with these countries, the Prime Minister said, “We share common aspirations and challenges. The Indian Diaspora in these countries also serves as the continent’s enduring link with India.”

“South America’s all round progress makes it a potentially important pole of the global economy and a land of enormous opportunities for us. My interactions would enable us to explore new ideas on further consolidating and expanding our ties with South America,” he said.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser A K Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram.

The sixth summit of BRICS, which will follow up on the decisions of the Durban meeting last year, will provide Mr. Modi his first opportunity at meeting world leaders, including President Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, and discuss bilateral issues.

A Fortaleza Declaration containing the summit outcome is also on the cards. Negotiations are already on for which Sujata Mehta, Secretary, Economic Relations, External Affairs Ministry, is Modi’s sherpa.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser A K Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram.

BRICS accounts for more than a quarter of the world’s land mass, 40 per cent of its population and a combined GDP of USD 24 trillion.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi will also be meeting South African President Jacob Zuma besides host President Roussef of Brazil.

After a stopover in Berlin on Sunday night, Mr. Modi will leave for Fortaleza on Monday for the summit of leaders of BRICS.

On July 16, the BRICS leaders will move to the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, where they will meet leaders of South America, who have been invited by the hosts on the lines of Zuma inviting African leaders to Durban.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.