Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Xiamen in China to attend the 2017 BRICS Summit
The head of states of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa at the BRICS Summit in China today strongly condemned and named in a declaration, for the first time, Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Haqqani network. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the Chinese port city of Xiamen for the BRICS Summit 2017, said he looks forward to having "productive discussions and positive outcomes" with leaders of the grouping to support the agenda for a stronger partnership among the member countries. PM Modi holds bilateral meetings, starting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. PM Modi is also expected to meet leaders of countries like Egypt, invited by China as part of the BRICS outreach programme. Apart from Egypt, China has invited Kenya, Tajikistan, Mexico and Thailand as guest countries at the BRICS Summit. PM Modi's visit to China to attend the BRICS Summit comes days after India and China ended the 73-day-long Doklam standoff.
Here are the live updates from the BRICS Summit 2017:
India One Of The Most Open Economies: PM Modi"India is changing fast into one of the most open economies in the world today. Foreign Direct Investment inflows are at an all-time high, rising by 40 per cent. India has moved up in the World Bank Index of Ease of Doing Business. Similarly, we have moved up 32 spots in last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS Summit 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit 2017 (AFP)
BRICS Nations Sign Four Agreements
BRICS member states today signed four agreements. They are BRICS Action Agenda on Economic and Trade Cooperation, BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation (2017-20), Strategic Framework of BRICS Customs Cooperation, and Memorandum of Understanding between the BRICS Business Council and the New Development Bank on Strategic Cooperation or NDB. NDB is a multilateral development bank set up by BRICS.
GST India's Biggest Economic Reform: PM Modi
The Goods and Services Tax or GST is India's biggest economic reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS Business Council session today. He said state-run programmes such as Digital India, Start-Up India and Make In India are changing the economic landscape of the country. "These programmes are helping turn India into a knowledge-based, skill-supported and technology-driven society," PM Modi said.
Read the highlights of PM Modi's intervention at BRICS Summit.
PM Modi at BRICS "talked about furthering cooperation in key areas like agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, sports & culture. Shared details about India's continuous efforts to eradicate poverty, ensure better healthcare, food security, sanitation & education," he tweeted.
Xiamen Declaration:
We call upon the internation community to establish a genuinely broad internation counter-terrorism coalition and support the UN's central coordinating role in this regard.
We, in this regard, express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al-Qaida and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
We deplore all terrorist attacks worldwide, including attacks in BRICS countries, and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever and stress that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.
We reaffirm that those responsible for committing, organizing, or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable. Recalling the primary leading role and responsibility of states in preventing and countering terrorism, we stress the necessity to develop international cooperation, in accordance with the principles of international law, including that of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
We recognize the important contribution of BRICS countries to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and the importance of United Nations peacekeeping operations to international peace and security.
We reaffirm our support to the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to achieve "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" peace and national reconciliation, to the ongoing international efforts, including the Moscow Format of consultations on Afghanistan and "Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process", as well as multimodal connectivity projects to promote peace and stability, to the fight against terrorism and drug-threat, and to the national reconstruction efforts by Afghanistan.
Xiamen Declaration on terrorism:
BRICS urges nations to adopt a comprehensive policy in combating terrorism, countering radicalisation and curbing terror financing: Press Trust of India
BRICS calls for expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by the UN: Press Trust of India
Not just PM Modi, leaders of all member countries have come out very strongly against terror. Declaration talks about terror names LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Haqqani Network and others, says Preeti Saran at the MEA Press Conference.
BRICS voices concern over attacks by terror groups like Taliban, Al Qaeda, Pak-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and JeM: news agency PTI
PM Modi meets Russia President Vladimir Putin
The bilateral meeting begins between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Watch | PM Modi's statement at the 2017 BRICS Summit plenary session
Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the BRICS Plenary Session
Here are the highlights of Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the BRICS Summit in Xiamen:
1) As the world undergoes profound changes, BRICS cooperation has become more important.
2) Despite our differences in national conditions, our five countries are in similar stages of development and share the same development cause.
3) We should speak with one voice and jointly present our solutions to issues concerning international peace and development.
4) I am pleased to note the important consensus reached at leadership level on closer people-to-people exchanges being translated into reality.
5) China will contribute $4 million to the NDB project preparation facility to support business operations and long term development of the bank.
6) Our ever closer ties with the rest of the world require that we five countries play a more active part in global governance.
7) Without our participation, many pressing global challenges cannot be effectively resolved.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the meeting of the 5 member countries of the BRICS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement at the Plenary Session of the 2017 BRICS Summit in China's Xiamen.
Here are the highlights of what he said:
1) PM Modi begins his statement by thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for a warm reception and excellent organisation of the BRICS Summit
2) BRICS has developed a robust framework for cooperation; contribute stability and growth in a world drifting towards uncertainty
3) Our endeavours today touch diverse areas of agriculture, culture, environment, energy, sports, and ICT.
4) Appreciating thrust in people-to-people exchanges, PM Modi states that such inter-mingling will "consolidate our links and deepen our understanding".
5) We are in mission-mode to eradicate poverty; to ensure health, sanitation, skills, food security, gender equality, energy, education.
6) Our women's empowerment programmes are productivity multipliers that mainstream women in nation building.
7) PM urges early creation of BRICS rating agency to cater to financing needs of sovereign and corporate entities of developing countries.
8) Our Central Banks must further strengthen their capabilities & promote co-operation between the Contingent Reserve Arrangement and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
9) Affordable, reliable and sustainable access to energy is crucial for development of our nations. Renewable energy is particularly important.
10) BRICS countries can work closely with ISA to strengthen the solar energy agenda: PM Modi on International Solar Alliance.
11) We need to mainstream our youth in our joint initiatives; scaled up cooperation in skill development and exchange of best practices.
12) PM Modi emphasises the need to accelerate track of cooperation in smart cities, urbanisation and disaster management - continuing dialogue at Goa.
13) A strong BRICS partnership on innovation and digital economy can help spur growth, promote transparency & support the SDGs.
14) PM Modi welcomes cooperation for capacity building between BRICS and African countries in area of skills, health, infra, manufacturing and connectivity.
Apart from the restricted talks, the leaders will participate in the plenary during which they will explore ways to enhance cooperation within the members of the grouping in key areas. They will also deliberate on international issues of significance, including global economy and challenges. The Summit will end with the adoption of a Xiamen declaration, which will capture the essence of the deliberations and future road map.
The Summit will be the first gathering when the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will meet after New Delhi and Beijing decided on "expeditious disengagement" of their border troops in the disputed Doklam plateau on August 28 after over a two month standoff between them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the third leader to reach the convention centre, venue of the 9th BRICS Summit in this port city of Xiamen in China and was followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. PM Modi is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping tomorrow.
The BRICS Summit began in Xiamen today with a group photograph of leaders of the five countries and was preceded by a warm handshake between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who received the leaders of Brazil, Russia and South Africa ahead of the restricted meeting of the grouping.