New Delhi, Sept 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for a stronger role for the Global South in shaping international rules and addressing emerging global challenges as he inaugurated the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
India is hosting the summit on September 12 and 13 under its 2026 BRICS presidency. The meeting brings together leaders and senior representatives of the grouping’s member countries to discuss issues ranging from global governance and multilateralism to economic growth, innovation and sustainability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday for the summit and is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Modi. Putin highlighted the growing economic weight of BRICS, noting that the grouping represents a significant share of the world’s population and has large domestic markets.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is also attending the summit after arriving in New Delhi on Saturday. His visit is expected to include a meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the gathering, with bilateral ties likely to figure in their discussions.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira is representing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the summit. Other leaders attending include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
The first closed-door session of the summit is focused on “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.” The leaders are also scheduled to visit the Bharat Innovates exhibition, participate in a family photograph and a tree plantation programme. Modi is scheduled to host a dinner for the visiting leaders.
The summit will continue on Sunday with the participation of BRICS partner countries and outreach invitees. An open session will focus on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.
”BRICS currently has 11 members — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE. Collectively, the grouping accounts for nearly half of the world’s population and represents a substantial share of global economic activity and trade.
Tight Security in Delhi
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across the national capital for the summit at Bharat Mandapam.
Thousands of police and security personnel, along with dog squads and anti-drone systems, have been deployed around the venue. Delhi Police has also installed hundreds of CCTV cameras to maintain surveillance of key locations.
Airspace restrictions have been imposed around New Delhi during the summit period, while traffic regulations are being enforced on several major roads and corridors connecting central Delhi with other parts of the city.
Authorities have advised commuters to plan their journeys in advance and use the Metro wherever possible.
