India supports expansion of BRICS: Modi

Sources said that the Prime Minister raised the issue of expansion of the BRICS grouping at the Leaders’ Retreat in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.

“India has taken the lead in forging consensus to select new members for the BRICS and there was significant development in the proposed expansion of the five-nation grouping,” sources said on Wednesday.

Sources said significant development has taken place on BRICS expansion during the leaders’ retreat, adding India took the lead in forging consensus on membership criteria and selection of new members.

“Our efforts were guided by our objective to incorporate our strategic partners as new members,” said a source.

Pitching for the Global South and the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 grouping, Modi said at the summit on Wednesday, “The countries of the Global South have been given a special importance in BRICS, under the chairmanship of South Africa. We heartily welcome it. This is not only the expectation of the present time, but also the need. India has given top priority to this topic under its G20 presidency. Our effort is to move forward together with all the countries on the motto of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. 125 countries participated in the Voice of Global South summit held in January this year, sharing their concerns and priorities.”

“We have also proposed to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. I am sure all the BRICS partners are also together in the G20. And all will support our proposal,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said the BRICS embarked on a long and amazing journey in the last two decades and highlighted how the New Development Bank of the grouping is playing an important role in carrying forward developmental activities in the Global South.

India suggested measures in areas of railway research networks, and cooperation among MSMEs and start-ups and there has been significant progress in these fields, Modi said.

Separately, Modi on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during which they reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties, exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues and also on ways to work jointly to strengthen the voice of the Global South.

“Both leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in various fields including defence, agriculture, trade and investment, health, conservation and people-to-people ties,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement.

Modi and Ramaphosa also exchanged views on continued coordination in multilateral bodies and regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Ramaphosa expressed full support for India’s G20 presidency and appreciated India’s initiative for giving the African Union full membership of G-20, the statement said, adding that the president conveyed that he looked forward to visiting New Delhi for the G-20 Summit.

Modi congratulated Ramaphosa on the successful hosting of the BRICS Summit and accepted the president’s invitation to pay a state visit to South Africa at a mutually convenient date, the statement said.

The Prime Minister arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday on a three-day visit primarily to attend the BRICS summit. But all eyes are on a bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi.