File Photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for Brazil on Sunday to attend the sixth annual summit of BRICS countries, to discuss creation of a development bank and reforms within the of the UN Security Council.
It will also provide the first occasion for the Prime Minister, who took office May 26, to meet wwith other leaders of the BRICS, a grouping of major emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Jacob Zuma as well Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
The visit will be Modi's first participation in an international summit as the prime minister. He will have bilateral meetings during his visit and will also meet leaders of other South American countries along with other BRICS leaders.
The leaders of South American countries have been invited by Brazilian President to meet the BRICS leaders.
The three day summit will be held in Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Brasilia from July 15.
Officials have said that India will pursue the issue of UN Security Council reforms "in discussions in whatever form".
The officials said Modi would be accompanied by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Modi will make a transit halt in Germany.
The officials said that the transit halt will be Berlin on way to Brazil and Frankfurt on his way back.
Mr. Modi will however not be meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she is travelling to Brazil to watch the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday between her country and Argentina.
Signing of agreements to create BRICS Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement are being considered central to the agenda of the BRICS summit.
The BRICS Development Bank, which would mirror the World Bank, will have authorised capital to be used for infrastructure financing and sustainable development projects in member countries.
The Contingent Reserve Arrangement will function as an additional buffer for BRICS countries facing difficulties with their balance of payments.
Issues relating to climate change and export credit guarantees are also expected to come up for discussion. The summit is expected to end in a joint declaration from the six countries.
Prime Minister Modi will have a bilateral meeting with President Rousseff which is expected to focus trade, investment, health, environment, science and technology.
The summit will inaugurate the second cycle of BRICS as each member country has hosted one summit meeting so far. The last BRICS summit was held in Durban, South Africa.
While the meeting at Fortaleza will leaders discussing the potential of BRICS, the working session between leaders of BRICS and the heads of government of South America will be held at Brasilia July 16.
As part of the BRICS summit, meetings of business forums, trade ministers and business council would be held July 14.
The first summit meeting of the BRICS was held in 2009. The countries together account for more than 40 percent of the world's population.