India to take up UNSC reforms at BRICS meeting next week

In his first participation in a global meet, prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the sixth summit of BRICS countries in Brazil 14-16 July where reforms of the UN Security Council and issues like the BRICS development bank and climate change are likely to be taken up.

It will also be his first meeting as PM with top leaders of BRICS countries that also include Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.

The sixth BRICS summit will take place in the Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Brasilia.

Briefing reporters Sunday about the visit, Sujata Mehta, secretary, economic relations who is the prime minister’s ‘sherpa’ for the meeting, said the BRICS summit has a vast symbolic significance and ‘has its own message’.

Dinkar Khullar, secretary (West) in external affairs ministry who looks after Latin America and ministry’s spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin were also present at the briefing.

The prime minister will have bilateral meetings during his visit and also meet leaders of other South American countries along with other BRICS leaders. The leaders of Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Peru have been invited by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to meet the BRICS leaders.

Modi, who is expected to leave for Brazil on 13 July, is likely to embark on his return journey 16 July, officials said.

Answering queries about the summit, Mehta said India will pursue the issue of UN Security Council reforms ‘in discussions in whatever form’.

She said the issues relating to climate change, BRICS development bank and export credit 

guarantees were expected to come up for discussion. The proposed bank will provide concessional credit to members and other developing countries.