Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Waterkloof in South Africa. (AFP)
After his Uganda visit ends today, PM Modi has arrived in South Africa to participate in the BRICS Summit, whose theme this year is 'BRICS in Africa'.Leaders of the BRICS emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- will gather in Johannesburg on Wednesday for a three-day meeting focused on the threat of a US-led global trade war.US President Donald Trump's hardening stance has compounded fears of an all-out trade war after he slapped levies on goods from China worth tens of billions of dollars and imposed tariffs on other international imports.
China's President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Michel Temer will attend the annual summit, along with several African leaders invited as guests.
Xi held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the eve of the gathering, saying that "the Johannesburg summit has special significance for BRICS cooperation in the new circumstances".
Here are the Highlights from Narendra Modi's South Africa visit for the 'BRICS in Africa' Summit:
Brazil President Michel Temer (C) arrives at the Waterkloof Air Force Base on July 25, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves after arrival at the Waterkloof Air Force Base on July 25, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. (AFP)
The BRICS group, comprising more than 40 percent of the global population, represents some of the biggest emerging economies, but it has struggled to find a unified voice -- as well as achieving sharply different growth rates.
China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that there would be "no winner" in any global trade war, in a direct warning to US President Donald Trump who has threatened to slap levies on all Chinese imports: AFP
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses delegates at a Business Forum organised during the 10th BRICS
China's President Xi Jinping addresses delegates at a Business Forum organised during the 10th BRICS.
Trump's warnings have given Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa fresh impetus to enhance trade cooperation, and officials at a three-day summit that kicked off in Johannesburg on Wednesday found a collective voice championing global trade.
Trade war unity at BRICS? (Source AFP)
Sreeram Chaulia, of the Jindal School of International Affairs outside Delhi, told AFP that BRICS leaders would "concur that the US has unleashed punitive trade wars that are hurting all the BRICS members".
Russian Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin said last week the Johannesburg meeting was "about the context -- we are at a time when the US and China announce new measures almost every week".
PM Modi will arrive in Johannesburg at 1600 hrs (local time) The BRICS schedule will be as follows:
July 25- BRICS Business Forum will be organised
July 26- BRICS Leaders' meeting and Retreat
July 27-BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS-Plus Initiative
Xi Jinping held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the eve of the gathering, saying that "the Johannesburg summit has special significance for BRICS cooperation in the new circumstances".
China and India will discuss the US' trade war and its protectionist trade policy when President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg
PM Modi had made the following points on the Parliament of Uganda :
Our partnership will build instruments of empowerment in Africa.
Just as India and Africa fought colonialism together, we will work together for a just, representative and democratic global order that has a voice and a role for one-third of humanity that lives in Africa and India
We will keep our markets open and make it easier and more
attractive to trade with India.
Our development partnership will be guided by your priorities. It will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will liberate your potential and not constrain your future.
Africa has 60% of the world's arable land, but produces just 10% of the global output. We will work with you to improve Africa's agriculture.
While In Uganda, PM Modi had gifted the country a cancer therapy machine as a token of love. President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni said that the two leaders discussed "trade, investment and tourism" in their meeting.
Prime Minister will attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa. He was in Rwanda for a two-day visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister.