MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit scheduled for Sunday in India’s Goa. The first events of the summit — taking photographs together in the traditional Indian clothes and an informal dinner — were held on Saturday. Today the leaders will continue working on the main program.
Main topics of BRICS summit
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told journalists ahead of the summit that the five leaders will discuss both global economy and fight against terrorism. "The situation in the global economy, issues of global growth, BRICS cooperation with other countries, climate change, sustainable development tasks, extending humanitarian contacts (will be on the agenda)," Ushakov said.
"Of course, the leaders will be able to touch upon every topic in their discussions," he added. "A lot of attention will be paid to international problems, fight against terrorism, situation in Syria and other places," the presidential aide noted.
Rich program
Ushakov also said that the leaders will first meet in the narrow format, and then hold another session in the format of a working lunch. The five leaders will also meet with representatives of the BRICS Business Council and discuss issues of expanding trade, integrating the economies of the member countries and launching new projects.
The topic of the meeting in the broad format is "BRICS Cooperation - Ways Forward." At the end of the summit, a declaration for the next year will be adopted. Several multilateral documents, including a memorandum on cooperation between the BRICS member countries’ development banks and the New Development Bank (NDB), will be signed in the presence of the leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a statement for the press after the two-day summit.
Key element of multipolar world
In his recent interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the importance of BRICS, saying the association is one of the key elements of the forming multipolar world.
"Members of BRICS invariably confirm their adherence to fundamental principles of international law, facilitate strengthening of UN’s central role," Putin said. "Our countries do not accept the policy of forceful pressure and infringement on the sovereignty of other countries. We have similar approaches to relevant international problems, including on the Syrian crisis, Middle Eastern settlement," he added.
"That’s why the final declarations of the summits - and the meeting in Goa will not be an exception in this regard - confirm our common adherence to fundamental principles of inter-state communication, first of all observing international law with UN’s central coordinating role," the Russian president said. "Against the backdrop of attempts by several Western countries to force through their unilateral approaches, such position gains special significance," he concluded.