Modi, Sharif may hold talks in Russia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia to attend the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summits.

“It is very special to be in Russia, a nation whose remarkable friendship with India has always been known,” Mr. Modi said on his arrival.

He was accorded a warm welcome at the Ufa Airport and was treated with sweets.

“I am hopeful of productive meetings and interactions at the BRICS and SCO Summits, forums we attach immense importance to,” the Prime Minister said.

On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Mr. Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are expected to have a meeting to discuss the bilateral relations.

He will first attend the summit of five-nation BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — which is expected to be dominated by discussions on enhancing cooperation in the economic front.

With the BRICS Development Bank already set up, the summit could also look at the possibility of starting trade and credit facility in local currency.

“I expect positive outcomes in economic cooperation and cultural ties among the BRICS nations. The [BRICS] Summit in 2014 was productive and I am sure we will build on the ground covered during the last Summit,” Mr. Modi had said in a statement prior to his departure from Delhi on Monday.

He had also said that he will be meeting the leaders of BRICS nations individually and will be a part of the various interactions of BRICS leaders with captains of industry and leaders of other invited countries.

An announcement with regard to India’s membership in the six-nation grouping of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan is expected during the SCO summit on July 9-10.

A top Russian official on Tuesday said the process of India’s membership will be completed by next year, along with that of Pakistan, to make it an eight-member body.

As of now, India has observer status in the 19-year-old grouping whose focus is on boosting connectivity, counter-terrorism cooperation, bolstering cooperation in energy sector, enhancing trade and dealing with drug trafficking.