NSG Membership, Trade, Defence Ties Mark Day 1 of Goa BRICS Summit

Modi will host a state dinner for the visiting heads of states and government of the BRICS at Leela Goa on Sunday.
The Quint
India
Updated:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other BRICS leaders wearing ethnic jackets before the informal dinner on Saturday, 15 October 2016. (Photo: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other BRICS leaders wearing ethnic jackets before the informal dinner on Saturday, 15 October 2016. (Photo: PTI)
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  • The 8th BRICS summit will be held in Goa.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Dabolim City. His arrival was delayed due to bad weather.
  • Russia and India held bilateral talks and signed key defence and energy deals.
  • PM Modi appreciated Russia’s stand to fight terrorism and said it mirrored ours.
  • Bilateral talks with China is also on the agenda. India is likely to bring up NSG again.
  • India will mount a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.
  • The summit includes an outreach to BIMSTEC – Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
  • India holds bilateral meeting with China.

After the meeting with the BRICS leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Kigali agreement.

In a landmark step to combat climate change, about 200 nations, including India, today struck a legally-binding Kigali deal after intense negotiations to phase down climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons that have global warming potential a thousand times more than carbon dioxide.

The agreement will lead to a reduction of 0.5 degrees in global temperature by the end of the century and enable us to achieve the goals set in Paris. This will also provide a mechanism for countries like India to access and develop technologies that leave a low carbon footprint.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

After PM Modi’s meeting with with President Xi, MEA Spokesperson, Vikas Swarup said, “Both (PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping) reviewed bilateral relationship and its dimensions. Both sides recognised terrorism as a key issue, President Xi said we should strengthen our security dialogue and partnership.”

PM Modi said that both India and China had been victims of terrorism which was a scourge afflicting the entire region. President Xi said that terrorism and violent extremism were on the increase, he alluded to the threat from ISIL. There was a brief discussion on NSG, PM said that we look forward to working with China to realise India’s membership of NSG.One round of consultations had already taken place between two sides, President Xi said that second round would be happening soon. 
Vikas Swarup, MEA Spokesperson

Swarup said that the Chinese side is very well aware of Indian concerns about terrorist attacks in its soil and the need to ensure that globally notified terrorists are designated by the UN.

PM Modi said India and China must increase their coordination in context of UN 1267 committee and look for common ground. He also said that today no country is immune from terrorism, and this is an issue on which we cannot afford to have any differences.
Vikas Swarup, MEA Spokesperson

PM Modi will be holding meetings with the Sri Lankan President and the with Prime Minister of Bhutan, on Sunday, Swarup said.

President Xi lauded India's chairmanship of BRICS, and in particular outreach with BIMSTEC countries which he described as innovative, Swarup added.

PM Modi tweeted that the meeting held with Chinese President, Xi Jinping “was fruitful”.

Modi Meets South African President, Jacob Zuma

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meets South African President, Jacob Zuma ahead of the BRICS summit.

PM Modi greets South African President, Jacob Zuma. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

After the meeting, Modi said:

Met South African President, Jacob Zuma and had comprehensive talks with him on further cementing India’s ties with South Africa.

BRICS Leaders Will be Meeting Shortly

In a short while from now, the meeting with all the participating leaders of BRICS summit will commence.

Modi Meets Jinping for Bilateral Talks

PM Modi meets Chinese President, Xi Jinping before the multilateral talks between India and other countries commence, ahead of the BRICS Summit in Goa, on Saturday.

India holds bilateral talks with China ahead of the BRICS Summit. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Modi Meets Chinese President Xi at BRICS Summit

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meets Chinese President, Xi Jinping in Goa at the BRICS Summit 2016, on Saturday.

PM Narendra Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS Summit. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@ANI_News)

Prime Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan Arrive

The Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay and the Prime Minister of Nepal, Prachanda arrived ahead of the BRICS-BIMSTECH Outreach Summit.

Prime Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan arrive ahead of the BRICS-BIMSTECH Outreach Summit. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Read the list of MoUs exchaged during India-Russia Annual Summit 2016 here.

Indian and Russian foreign secretaries exchange MoUs. (Photo: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Excerpts From PM Modi's Speech

India and Russia Are Moving Towards a Bright Future: PM Modi

PM Modi spoke at the joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He appreciated Russia’s stand on terrorism, and said it mirrors our own.

We deeply appreciate Russia’s understanding and support of our actions to fight cross-border terrorism that threatens our entire region.

He added that Russia and India have agreed to work on an annual military industrial conference that will allow stakeholders on both sides to institute and push collaboration.

India and Russia signed 18 Memorandums of Understanding after holding bilateral talks.

India to Buy S-400 Air Defence System From Russia

India will buy the S-400 Triumf air defence systems from Russia, worth over $5 billion, and collaborate in making four state of the art frigates, besides setting up a joint production facility for making Kamov helicopters.

The two countries have been in talks for over a year for the purchase of at least five systems of S-400 that will be a game changer in the region.

It is capable of firing three types of missiles, creating a layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36 targets.

Another important deal is for four Admiral Grigorovich-class (Project 11356) guided-missile stealth frigates.

The complex agreement for production of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters domestically under a nearly $1 billion deal to replace the country's aging Cheetah and Chetak choppers is yet another important defence deal between the countries.

India and Russia Sign MoUs

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India and Russia Hold Delegation Level Talks

FB Live: Samir Saran Talks About BRICS and BIMSTEC

Samir Saran, Vice President of Observer Research Foundation live with The Quint to analyse this year’s BRICS agenda.

Chinese President Xi Jinping Arrives in Goa

(Photo: ANI)

PM Modi Meets Putin Ahead of the Summit

The two leaders are expected to talk about a range of issues including defence and countering terrorism. They have begun their ‘restricted talks’.

Putin, Jacob Zuma Arrive in Goa

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Dabolim city, Goa for the summit. His arrival had been delayed due to poor weather conditions.

South African President Jacob Zuma and Brazilian President Michel Temer arrived earlier in the day.

Protesters Holding 'Free Tibet' Posters in Goa Detained

On the sidelines of the summit that China will be attending too, Tibetans staged protests in Margao against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The police have detained the protesters.

Modi Likely to Bring up NSG with China, Sign Defence Deal with Russia

Issues such as India's NSG membership bid and China blocking UN ban on JeM chief and Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar are likely to be raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A range of key bilateral and international issues, including ways to tackle threat of terrorism besides security situation in the region, are also likely to figure in the talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

Also Read: Won’t Budge on India’s NSG Bid, Masood Azhar’s Ban, Says China

Ramping up bilateral ties, India and Russia too are likely to sign key defence deals worth billions of dollars as Moscow hopes to stave off tough competition from the Americans and the Europeans to continue being New Delhi's foremost defence supplier.

Putin’s Arrival Delayed Due to Fog

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival to Goa for the summit has been delayed due to fog.

Visuals of fog at the Goa airport. (Photo: ANI)

India to Mount Diplomatic Offensive Against Pakistan

Seeking to further isolate Pakistan on terror, India will mount a major diplomatic offensive against it and push for stepped up cooperation, including support for a comprehensive global convention to tackle the menace.

India is likely to push for unity among the members to remove the logjam at the UN on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) for effectively dealing with terror. Initiated by India, the CCIT is stuck at the UN due to lack of agreement among its members about the definition of terrorism.

Modi to Host State Dinner for BRICS-BIMSTEC Leaders at Leela

The PM will host a state dinner for the visiting heads of states and government of the BRICS and BIMSTEC groups at the beachside luxury hotel 'Leela Goa' on Sunday night.

While the five-member BRICS group comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the seven-member BIMSTEC bloc has Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.

Events at BRICS Goa Summit 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Goa on Friday evening to participate in the BRICS Summit to begin on Saturday.

"Over next few days, India will host world leaders for the 8th BRICS and 1st ever BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit," Modi tweeted earlier.

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Published: 14 Oct 2016,04:19 AM IST

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