External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged with heads of delegations during the 16th BRICS Summit held at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center, participating in the Outreach/BRICS Plus session.

Jaishankar, who accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the summit, shared glimpses of the event in a post on X, saying, “Ahead of the BRICS Outreach session in Kazan.” The outreach gathering extended the BRICS platform to new partner countries, reinforcing the bloc’s focus on multilateralism and global cooperation.

On the sidelines of the summit, Jaishankar held key bilateral meetings. He met Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi’s successor Sugiono, congratulating him on his recent appointment on October 20. In another meeting with Malaysian Economy Minister Rafiziramli, the two diplomats discussed follow-up actions from earlier meetings between the Indian and Malaysian Prime Ministers, aimed at deepening bilateral ties.

The 16th BRICS Summit, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, brought together top leaders, including PM Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to address pressing global challenges. The discussions spanned key issues such as counterterrorism, sustainable development, climate resilience, and economic cooperation, with a special emphasis on amplifying the voice of the Global South.

Highlighting the significance of the summit amid global uncertainties, PM Modi addressed two key sessions, stressing the need for collaborative solutions to challenges like conflicts, cyber threats, and climate change. PM Modi’s visit to Kazan also marked his second trip to Russia in three months, following his April visit for the annual India-Russia summit.

The BRICS leaders concluded the summit by welcoming 13 new partner countries, signaling the bloc’s expanding influence on the global stage.

(Inputs from ANI)