Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Johannesburg for the 15th BRICS Summit which began under the South African chairmanship on Tuesday.
PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome as he arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base on the outskirts of Pretoria. He was warmly received by Paul Mashatile, the Deputy President of South Africa.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi arrives in South Africa’s Johannesburg for the 15th BRICS Summit pic.twitter.com/UDKY4MsKbM
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023
This is the first in-person BRICS Summit since 2019 and will provide an opportunity to review progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping, and identify future areas of activity.
People of Indian community welcome PM Modi on his arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa. https://t.co/SMOFhIGIUl
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 22, 2023
During his visit, Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg and will also participate in a special event ‘BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue’ being organised after the BRICS Summit, which will include other countries invited by South Africa.
#WATCH | We are very very excited that PM @narendramodi is visiting South Africa and we are very sure that his visit will add a lot of value to the India-South Africa ties, says an Indian Diaspora 🇿🇦@PMOIndia @MEAIndia #PMModiInSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/hPR9vAFUfQ
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 22, 2023
“BRICS has been pursuing a strong cooperation agenda across various sectors. We value that BRICS has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on issues of concern for the entire Global South, including development imperatives and reform of the multilateral system,” PM Modi said in his departure statement Tuesday morning.
PM @narendramodi alights in South Africa.
Know more about the broad elements of his three-day visit. pic.twitter.com/B3IiM2KhI9
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2023
PM Modi also interacted with the members of Indian diaspora who had gathered to welcome him. A large chunk of Indians also waited eagerly for Prime Minister’s arrival in Sandton where the summit is taking place.
Members of Indian diaspora give a warm welcome to PM @narendramodi as he arrives at the hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa.
PM Modi will attend the 15th #BRICS summit and also hold bilateral meetings with several leaders.@PMOIndia | #PMModiInSouthAfrica | #BRICSSummit2023 pic.twitter.com/FH1Xh4cklb
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 22, 2023
Following his visit to South Africa, PM Modi will pay an official visit to Greece on August 25 at the invitation of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Greece in 40 years. India and Greece enjoy civilisational ties, which have strengthened in recent years through cooperation in areas like maritime transport, defence, trade and investments and people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister will hold talks with Mitsotakis to discuss ways to further deepen the relationship. He will also interact with business leaders from both countries, as well as with the Indian community in Greece.
🎥 As PM @narendramodi is heading to Johannesburg, take a look at what PM’s visit to South Africa & Greece has in store. pic.twitter.com/H9PiW1592C
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2023
“Contacts between our two civilizations stretch back over two millennia. In modern times, our ties have been strengthened by shared values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism. Cooperation in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence, and cultural and people-to-people contacts have been bringing our two countries closer,” PM Modi said in his departure statement.
Also Read: How BRICS hopes to set the agenda for change driven by the Global South
