15 bilaterals, 3 days: PM Modi's jam-packed schedule during BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a jam-packed three-day schedule during the BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, which ended on Sunday. Alongside the main summit, Modi met leaders from at least 15 countries for bilateral talks, including the presidents of China, Russia and Iran.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a moment with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on during day two of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. (REUTERS)The prime minister’s engagements went beyond the bilateral meetings.

He chaired the BRICS Business Forum and proposed the 45-page New Delhi Declaration, which received the unanimous approval of all BRICS members. On September 11, PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin for bilateral talks at Bharat Mandapam.

Modi called for an end to the war in Ukraine and reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward. The two leaders also reviewed cooperation in the economic, defence, and energy sectors, as well as issues related to the movement of workers.

Later in the day, Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at Bharat Mandapam, marking their second meeting in two weeks. The prime minister called for the West Asia conflict to be resolved through dialogue and stressed the need for continued efforts to keep navigation routes open and protect seafarers' safety.

PM Modi also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who congratulated him on India taking over the BRICS chairmanship. Chinese President Xi Jinping met PM Modi on Saturday during his first visit to India in nearly 7 years.

At the bilateral meeting, India said that maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border remains the “essential basis” for advancing relations with China. The two leaders also welcomed “steady progress” in ties between the two countries during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

Modi also met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, UAE Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vietnam’s Le Minh Hung. On the final day of the summit, PM Modi continued his bilateral engagements with several leaders.

He met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye. His schedule also included engagements with the leadership of Uganda and Nigeria.

BRICS originally brought together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The grouping added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam were added as BRICS partner countries last year.

Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs.

The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals.

The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources.

Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More