Big reunion at Brics: PM Modi, Xi & Putin meet for 3rd time in 3 yrs; PM shares photo

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday posted a series of photos from the Brics Summit in Delhi, including one showing him with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as they held hands.The images highlighted the personal rapport among the three leaders as the expanded Brics entered its third decade. PM Modi also shared a picture of himself interacting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, with Putin standing beside them. Another image showed PM Modi walking alongside Putin and smiling.Other leaders attending the summit include Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, New Development Bank president Dilma Rousseff and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Zou Jiayi are also attending the summit.The theme of India’s Brics presidency is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".The summit at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam assumes greater significance as it is being held against the backdrop of a global economy facing the adverse effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis, particularly the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration’s trade and tariff policies.In a parallel development, BRICS countries have reached a consensus on a joint statement following intensive negotiations that continued until the early hours of Saturday.The negotiations involved differences over several contentious issues, with India leading sustained consultations until 4 am to bridge competing positions and build consensus among members.Against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions in West Asia, reaching consensus among Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE presented a complex diplomatic challenge.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.