India’s beach tourism mecca, Goa, has transformed into a fortress as it hosts the eight BRICS summit, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already set the tone by calling for creating partnerships between member nations, resolving long-standing issues and putting a stronger emphasis on promotion of people-to-people linkages in diverse fields including trade, sports, education, films, scholarship, and tourism.
The high profile BRICS meet will also be accompanied by a BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) meet comprising of heads of states from Bangaldesh, India, Myanmar, Sri lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials, Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are also scheduled to participate in the 17th bilateral summit between the two countries, where the issue of terrorism is expected to be discussed. The two leaders are also expected to sign agreements on a wide range of issues dealing with defence, energy, agriculture and other sectors.
Modi is also expected to meet heads of other BRICS and BIMSTEC countries, key among which are expected to be the meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, especially in light of the recent tensions between India and Pakistan following the Uri terror strike and the surgical strikes by the Indian armed forces.
According to Modi, who spelled out the BRICS' big picture in a Facebook post earlier today, India as chair of the meet this year, "has embraced a stronger emphasis on promoting people-to-people linkages in diverse fields including trade, sports, education, films, scholarship, and tourism".
"It is anchored in the belief that our people are pivotal partners in our effort to craft responsive, collective and inclusive solutions. We will launch new initiatives in Goa even as we mark the successful operationalization of initiatives like the BRICS New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement," Modi also said, adding that the BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa represent nearly two thirds of humanity together.
"We hope to tap the potential for cooperation and the dividends this will bring. India looks forward to building bridges to new partnerships and finding common resolve and solutions to our entrenched problems,” Modi also said.
BRICS is essentially a bloc formed in 2011, whose objective was to counter the mainstream Western dominance of global affairs across sectors and regions.
On Saturday, at the India-Russia summit, two countries are expected to build on a seventy year long relationship, which according to Indian ambassador to Moscow Pankaj Saran, over the years had developed into a partnership which was "special, privileged as well as strategic".
"As far as India is concerned, the relationship with Russia is among the most important that India has with any country in the world. It is based on mutual trust, mutual understanding, mutual respect and it encompasses every field of activity. So the engagement crosscutting is deep, very intense and it is poised to grow even further," Saran told a press conference at the Taj Exotica resort in South Goa's Benaulim village, which is hosting the event.
The diplomat also said that the relationship between India and Russia should also cater to the young generations of both countries.
"It should be as inclusive as possible, both in terms of its content as well as its strength within Russia and India. You should take the friendship back to the people," he said.
Terrorism he said would be "naturally" discussed during the bilateral summit.
"For sure, terrorism terrorism will be a subject of discussion. That is something which is expected and that would be very very natural for both leaders to discuss," Saran said.
Asked whether the participation of Russia in a joint military exercise conducted by Pakistan last month, would warrant a re-look between Indo-Russian relations, Saran said that New Delhi's concerns about the development had been conveyed to Moscow.
"We are confident that Russia will reflect upon our concerns and that is where we stand right now".
Meanwhile, surface to air guns have replaced beach beds and umbrellas at the beach stretch in South Goa, with the state authorities banning fishing and shipping activity and air space in the vicinity of the three hotels which are expected to host BRICS delegates and VVIPs.
11 companies of police and paramilitary force have also been pressed into providing security cover for the event.