India supports consensus-based expansion of BRICS: PM Modi
Addressing the BRICS summit, PM Modi also asked for the support of BRICS member nations for India's proposal to make the African Union a permanent member of G20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (August 23) gave India's support for the consensus-based expansion of the BRICS grouping.
Addressing the annual summit of leaders of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) at Johannesburg, which included Chinese President Xi Jinping, Modi, also hoped that India's proposal to make the African Union a permanent member of the G20 will be supported by the BRICS member nations.
"We will have to make our societies future-ready to make BRICS future-ready," he said at the meet.
Welcoming the move to give special importance to countries of the Global South under the South African presidency of the BRICS, Modi said India has given the "highest priority" to the countries of the Global South under its G20 presidency as well.
India fully supports the expansion of BRICS and welcomes the move to take forward the proposal based on consensus, he said.
The Prime Minister said the BRICS embarked on a long and amazing journey in the last two decades and highlighted how the New Development Bank of the grouping is playing an important role in carrying forward developmental activities in the Global South.
India suggested measures in areas of railway research networks, and cooperation among MSMEs and start-ups, areas in which there has been significant progress, Modi said.
(With inputs from agencies)
