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Modi leaves for BRICS summit in Brazil today
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 12
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving for Brazil tomorrow to attend the five-nation summit of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations from July 14 to 16.

This will be Modi’s second overseas trip after assuming the office in May. He visited Bhutan on his maiden trip as the PM last month.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi will have bilateral talks with leaders of BRICS nations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The summit is likely to finalise the setting up of a development bank and call for reforms of the UN Security Council and international financial organisations.

The PM will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation that includes Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser AK Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram.

After a stopover in Berlin tomorrow night, the PM and his entourage will leave for Fortaleza, the north-eastern coastal city of Brazil, for the summit.

Earlier, there were indications that Modi will have a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on his way to Brazil. However, the proposal had to be dropped as the German Chancellor also would be travelling to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup since Germany will be playing in the final.

A ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ containing the summit outcome is expected to be issued at the end of the summit.

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. There will be a ministerial meeting ahead of the summit and also a BRICS business council with businessmen from member-countries, who will be meeting on July 14 and 15.

The PM will also get an opportunity to engage with the Latin American region through meeting the leaders of South America, including heads of state and government from countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

On his way back home, the PM will make a brief halt in Frankfurt before reaching Delhi on July 17 night. 

Eyeing reforms

• The summit is expected to finalise a development bank and discuss reforms within the of the UN Security Council
• This will be Modi’s second overseas trip after assuming office
• The PM will have bilateral talks with leaders of BRICS nations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin
• Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser AK Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram to accompany the PM