Ahead of the BRICS Summit that begins on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said new initiatives will be launched in Goa after the successful operationalisation of New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
Along with the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit, in a first, India will also hold outreach Summit with the BIMSTEC leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sir lanka and Thailand. Co-operation against terrorism, improving trade and economic conditions, increasing people to people contact will remain high on agenda in these meetings.
“India is delighted to host the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa on 15-16 October 2016, followed by a first-ever BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit. I look forward to extending a warm welcome to the ten leaders of the BRICS and BIMSTEC families. In Goa, I will also have the honour to receive President Vladimir Putin of Russia for the India-Russia Annual Summit and President Michel Temer of Brazil for a bilateral visit,” Modi said on the eve of the Summit. “I am optimistic that the BRICS Summit will strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation and advance our common agenda for development, peace, stability and reform,” PM said in a Facebook post.
“New initiatives will be launched in Goa by BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) as it marks the successful operationalisation of initiatives like the BRICS New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement,” he added.
Modi said he is looking forward to building bridges to new partnerships and finding common resolve and solutions to entrenched problems of the region. Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summits in Goa. PM said they will discuss ways to address “pressing international and regional challenges that stand in the way of our goals.”
“President Putin’s visit will give us an opportunity to consolidate and reaffirm a unique time-tested friendship and partnership with Russia. President Temer’s visit will open up new areas for cooperation with Brazil, an important strategic partner,” PM said.
On the BIMSTEC outreach PM said: “Representing nearly two thirds of humanity together, we hope to tap the potential for cooperation and the dividends this will bring.”