On the second day of the 15th BRICS Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to engage in a significant bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting is scheduled to take place on August 23rd, as part of the ongoing summit.
During the course of Day 2, Prime Minister Modi is also slated to participate in both open and closed plenary sessions in Johannesburg. These sessions will be followed by a cultural performance and a banquet dinner, hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The inaugural day of the 15th BRICS Summit witnessed the BRICS Business Forum Leaders’ Dialogue. In his address at this event, PM Modi articulated India’s trajectory towards becoming a 5 trillion-dollar economy and highlighted its potential to be a driving force in the global economy. Despite global economic challenges, India stands as the fastest-growing major economy, as acknowledged by Modi.
Modi conveyed the message of the pivotal role that mutual trust and transparency play, particularly within the Global South, in creating a substantial impact. This perspective aligns with the theme of promoting cooperation and collaboration among the BRICS nations.
President Ramaphosa emphasized Africa’s demographic advantage and its potential to contribute significantly to the growth story of the BRICS countries. He underlined the young, urbanizing, and digitally-connected population of Africa, which offers a stable workforce and opportunities for investment in skills development.
Following the Business Forum, PM Modi partook in the BRICS Leaders Retreat. The retreat brought together leaders from Brazil, China, Russia, and South Africa to discuss global developments and deliberate on leveraging the BRICS platform to address global challenges effectively.
The visit also witnessed vibrant displays of cultural camaraderie. The Indian diaspora warmly welcomed PM Modi, with members tying ‘Rakhi’ on his wrist as a symbol of unity. The under-construction Swaminarayan Temple in Johannesburg, set to become the largest Hindu temple in Africa upon completion, was showcased during the visit.
This visit to South Africa marks PM Modi’s third and commemorates the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa. Originally constituted as BRIC, the BRICS alliance gained further strength with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. The bloc represents a collective of emerging economies poised to challenge established global institutions, offering an alternative economic paradigm.
As the 15th BRICS Summit progresses, the bilateral discussions and collaborations are anticipated to pave the way for constructive outcomes and strengthened ties among the member nations.
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