World Leaders Head Home After Successful 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi concluded after an intensive three-day programme that saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi engage in a series of high-level diplomatic meetings with visiting leaders and senior international officials. Hosted at Bharat Mandapam, the summit featured extensive multilateral discussions, bilateral engagements and outreach meetings. Prime Minister Modi delivered addresses during the main sessions and held around 15 bilateral meetings with visiting heads of state, heads of government and other senior representatives between Friday and Sunday.

As the summit came to an end, several prominent international leaders and officials departed New Delhi. Among those leaving the national capital were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov.

The summit schedule remained packed throughout the three days, with Modi holding formal bilateral meetings as well as shorter discussions with leaders and representatives taking part in the BRICS, Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue programmes. Modi began his diplomatic engagements on Friday afternoon with a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Bharat Mandapam. Later that evening, he held separate discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Prime Minister's schedule became even busier on Saturday. He began the day with talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at Hyderabad House before meeting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Modi subsequently received leaders representing BRICS member countries at Bharat Mandapam ahead of the formal summit proceedings. The participating leaders then took part in a closed-door session centred on inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateral cooperation, during which Modi addressed the gathering.

The day also featured a visit to the 'Bharat Innovates' exhibition, where Modi and other BRICS leaders viewed displays highlighting India's innovation and technological capabilities. The leaders later posed for the traditional group photograph and participated in a tree-planting programme at Bharat Mandapam. One of the most closely watched meetings of the summit took place between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders held bilateral discussions as India and China continue efforts to manage their relationship and expand areas of cooperation. Saturday's programme concluded with a gala dinner hosted by Modi for the visiting dignitaries.

The final day of the summit focused on engagement with BRICS partner countries and invited participants from the Outreach programme. Modi joined the leaders for a group photograph before addressing the session titled 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth'.

Sunday also featured a series of bilateral meetings. Modi held talks with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Ugandan Vice-President Jessica Alupo.

Alongside these scheduled meetings, Modi also held informal discussions with several participating leaders and representatives of international institutions during the summit's wider proceedings. With the conclusion of the BRICS meetings, visiting heads of state, government leaders and senior officials began leaving New Delhi. The departure of the foreign dignitaries marked the end of an intensive diplomatic programme that brought leaders and representatives from across the BRICS grouping and partner countries together in the Indian capital.