New Delhi: In the first BRICS Summit post-Afghanistan fall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the session in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on September 9.
"As part of India’s ongoing Chairship of BRICS in 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will chair the 13th BRICS Summit on September 9, 2021 in virtual format," an MEA release said.
The meeting will be also attended by President of Brazil, Jair Bolsanaro and President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.
India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, President of the New Development Bank, Marcos Troyjo, the pro tempore Chair of the BRICS Business Council, Onkar Kanwar and pro tempore Chair of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, Dr. Sangita Reddy, will present reports on the outcomes pursued this year under their respective tracks to the Leaders during the Summit.
The theme for the Summit is ‘BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus’. The Indian Chairship of BRICS this year coincides with the fifteenth anniversary of BRICS, as reflected in the theme for the Summit.
India had outlined four priority areas for its Chairship.
These are Reform of the Multilateral System, Counter Terrorism, Using Digital and Technological Tools for achieving SDGs and Enhancing People to People exchanges.
In addition to these areas, the leaders will also exchange views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other current global and regional issues.
This is the second time Prime Minister Modi will be chairing the BRICS Summit.
Earlier he had chaired the Goa Summit in 2016.
In view of fluid situations in Af-Pak region, the observations of Xi Jinping and Putin on BRICS stage would be important. Both Russia and China had abstained when UNSC under India's chairmanship had adopted resolution on Afghanistan situation.
China is known for having soft on Taiban and also hosted a delegation of the militants in July. India has been firm in its stance that no part of Afghanistan soil should be used for cross border terror activities against India or any other country.
