BRICS members and partner countries have begun arriving in New Delhi, India, for the group’s 18th Summit scheduled for 12 and 13 September at Bharat Mandapam.
The international geopolitical and economic organisation comprises 11 major emerging markets and developing countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed the arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Friday.
At the same time, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is said to arrive later in the day.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive on Saturday around 12:15 p.m., marking his first visit to India in almost seven years.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who arrived on Friday, will represent President Bola Tinubu at the BRICS Summit, during which he will join other leaders to discuss global issues.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo have arrived in New Delhi.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will represent the UAE.
Brazil will be represented by its Foreign Affairs Minister, Mauro Vieira.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye will participate in the summit.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will also be in Delhi to attend the BRICS summit.
Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mario Lubetkin, and World Health Organisation’s Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus are expected to attend the summit.
Others are Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Foreign Affairs Minister of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov, Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” the 18th BRICS Summit brings together 11 member nations, representing roughly 49 per cent of the world’s population and 40 per cent of global GDP, alongside 10 BRICS partner countries.
The key summit schedule shows the event will open with a closed-door session on “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism” for core members.
Leaders will tour the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, participate in a joint tree-planting ceremony, and attend a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also hold several bilateral meetings throughout the day.
On Sunday, PM Modi will welcome partner country leaders and outreach invitees for a broader session focused on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”
