BRICS summit 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a virtual summit of the five-nation grouping BRICS starting Thursday. The prime minister was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the annual summit on June 23 and 24 will also see Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance. The BRICS this week is taking place in the backdrop of the geopolitical turmoil triggered by the Russian attack on Ukraine.
The summit is being hosted by China in its capacity as the chair of the grouping for the current year.
"At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the 14th BRICS Summit hosted by China in virtual format on June 23 and 24. This includes a high-level dialogue on global development with guest countries on June 24," the MEA said in a statement.
It said the BRICS has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on issues of common concern for all developing countries, adding the grouping has regularly called for reform of the multilateral system to make it more representative and inclusive.
"Discussions during the 14th BRICS Summit are expected to cover intra-BRICS cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, trade, health, traditional medicine, environment, science and technology, and innovation, agriculture, technical and vocational education and training, and MSMEs," the MEA said.
It said discussions are also likely on issues like reform of the multilateral system, combating the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic recovery, amongst others.
BRICS Summit: All you need to know
The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) brings together five of the largest developing countries, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are also set to attend the summit.
The summit is also taking place amid the lingering border row between India and China in eastern Ladakh.
Last week, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval attended a virtual meeting of top security officials of the BRICS nations.
In his address, Doval called for bolstering cooperation against terrorism without any reservations while emphasising the need for urgent reform of the multilateral system in order to address global issues with credibility, equity and accountability.
(With inputs from PTI)
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