PM Modi leaves for South Africa; calls BRICS a platform to discuss issues of concern for Global South

PM Narendra Modi described BRICS Summit as an opportunity to identify future areas of cooperation among member countries. Modi left for Johannesburg today and will participate in the 3-day 15th BRICS Summit to be held in South Africa from Tuesday to Thursday. A grouping of the world's emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS aims at forging partnerships for mutual growth and inclusive multilateralism.

New Delhi [India] : Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Johannesburg today to participate in the 15th BRICS Summit at the invitation of South Africa's president Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. BRICS, which is a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is holding its 15th summit in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24.

In his departure statement, Modi said taht BRICS has become a platform for deliberating on issues of concern for the entire Global South, including development imperatives and reform of the multilateral system. Global South represents emerging economies that are located south of more industrialised countries of the world.

PM Modi further said that the BRICS summit will provide a useful opportunity for its member nations to identify future areas of cooperation and review institutional development. BRICS has been pursuing a strong cooperation agenda across various sectors, he said. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Modi said that during his current visit to South Africa, he would also participate in the 'BRICSAfrica Outreach' and 'BRICS Plus Dialogue' events that will be held as part of the summit activities. He said he looked forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this event.

The Indian Prime Minister said that he would also look forward to holding bilateral meetings with some of the Leaders present in Johannesburg. This year's BRICS summit will be the first in-person summit since 2019.

Modi further said that from South Africa, he will travel to Athens on August 25 at the invitation of his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in what is termed as Modi's first visit to this ancient land. PM Modi said that he has the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years. Modi said: "Contacts between our two civilizations stretch back over two millennia. In modern times, our ties have been strengthened by shared values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism. Cooperation in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence, and cultural and people-to-people contacts have been bringing our two countries closer." Modi said that he looks forward to his visit to Greece opening a new chapter in our multifacted relationship.

It is PM Modi's third visit to South Africa which holds the presidency of this year's BRICS Summit, whose theme is: "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism."

Ahead of Modi's visit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said an Indian business delegation is also travelling to South Africa to attend the Business Tracks meetings and also the meetings of the BRICS Business Council, BRICS Women Business Alliance and the BRICS Business Forum. As per reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the 15th BRICS Summit virtually.