PM meets Putin, Xi in Brazil

Brasilia, November 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin here on Wednesday.

Modi, who is in Brazil for the 11th BRICS Summit that will focus on building mechanisms for counter-terrorism cooperation and strengthen India’s ties with the world’s five major economies, met the three leaders on the sidelines of the meeting. 

Putin invited Modi for the Victory Day celebrations in May next year as the two met here and discussed ways to further cement their special strategic partnership. During the bilateral meeting, Modi said “frequent meetings have strengthened our relations”.

“Our bilateral relations are growing. You have invited me to visit Russia for the Victory Day celebrations. I am happily waiting that I will get an opportunity to meet you once again,” the PM said.

Putin said bilateral trade has registered a growth of 17 per cent. “We have been implementing major bilateral projects and strengthening technical cooperation and our cultural exchanges are expanding,” Putin said.

The annual May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, where Russia shows off its military might, commemorates the May 1945 allied victory over Nazi Germany.

Modi and Bolsonaro held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relationship, especially cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and bio-fuels in the context of climate change, deepening the “close and multifaceted” strategic partnership. Bolsonaro will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations next year. 

The meeting between Modi and Xi comes days after India decided not to join China-backed mega Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). — PTI