PM Modi Opens BRICS Summit 2026, Says India Is Building Economic Bridges Amid Trade Barriers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, September 12, welcoming world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, September 12, welcoming world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two-day diplomatic gathering takes place against a backdrop of global economic turbulence, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, and shifting international trade dynamics.
Modi Outlines 20-Year Institutional Vision for BRICS
Opening the plenary session, PM Modi delivered a direct message to the summit, proposing a structural transformation to guarantee long-term institutional momentum across the expanding bloc. 'I Don’t Know Why They Call Them That': Vladimir Putin Takes Swipe at G7, Praises BRICS Rise (Video).
Calling for a new agenda for the next two decades, Modi urged member states to modernize internal operational frameworks and introduce a permanent tracking system for all commitments.
"We need to work on a new and ambitious agenda for the next 20 years. We must begin this process with our own internal working systems. While the BRICS presidency rotates annually, this should not disrupt our institutional momentum. I propose the establishment of a BRICS continuity and implementation mechanism. This would enable the follow-up of all initiatives and outcomes through the 'Troika' arrangement. We could also create a secure digital repository to record the nodal point, timeframe, and implementation status associated with every decision."
Modi stressed that BRICS must act as a stabilizing pillar for the global economy, particularly for developing nations facing supply chain vulnerabilities, while reiterating that the alliance aims to serve as a constructive force in a multipolar world order. ‘Can We Have a Picture?’ PM Modi Joins Young Delegates for Group Photo at BRICS Summit (Video).
BRICS Summit 2026 Begins in New Delhi
VIDEO | BRICS Summit 2026: Officially declaring the BRICS Summit 2026 open, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Greetings to you all. It gives me immense pleasure to welcome and greet all of you to India. India’s BRICS chairship is based on a people-centric and humanity-first… pic.twitter.com/vhHwz89M5f
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 12, 2026
Key Leaders Gather in New Delhi
The summit marks a significant diplomatic milestone for India. The high-profile gathering features Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first trip to India in seven years alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin’s in-person attendance. Other major leaders present include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
High-Stakes Bilaterals and Economic Agenda
Strategic bilateral meetings are set to shape the sidelines of the summit. Following high-level discussions between PM Modi and President Putin on energy resilience and trade connectivity, PM Modi is scheduled to hold a crucial bilateral meeting with President Xi to review border stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and address bilateral trade imbalances.
Over the weekend, member nations will finalize the New Delhi Declaration, covering local-currency trade settlements, maritime route safety, digital financial infrastructure, and multilateral governance reform.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2026 03:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
