Modi-Putin bilateral meeting ahead of BRICS summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after arriving in India to attend the 18th BRICS summit. Discussions were held on increasing trade, investment and energy cooperation between the two countries as well as further strengthening bilateral relations at the meeting held in New Delhi on Friday.

At the beginning of the meeting the two leaders warmly embraced each other. This is the second meeting of Modi and Putin this year. Earlier they had met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek on August 31.

At the New Delhi meeting Prime Minister Modi presented Russian President with the Russian translation of the famous book ‘Thirukkural’ by Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. This book has detailed discussions on agriculture and farmers.

This is the first time Putin has physically participated in any BRICS summit outside Russia after the start of the Ukraine war. Before his India visit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had informed that Putin would discuss the current situation of the Ukraine war along with bilateral relations and various international issues in the meeting with Modi. He also informed that ongoing and future projects in the defence sector would be important topics of discussion.

The two-day 18th BRICS summit will be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under India’s presidency. Along with leaders of the BRICS member countries, invited representatives will also participate in it. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has informed that world leaders will increase cooperation among the member countries and exchange views on various international and regional issues at the summit.