Besides the formal bilateral meetings, PM Modi held pull-aside conversations with several other visiting leaders and representatives of international institutions.
Published: September 13, 2026, 11:19 PM IST
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From Russia and China to Iran and Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic calendar has remained packed on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, with PM Modi holding 15 sit-down bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Heads of Government over the last three daysThe meetings, held alongside the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, have been in addition to pull-aside interactions with various world leaders and leaders of international institutions, giving a broad sweep to India’s diplomatic engagement during its BRICS chairship.
Among the most significant engagements were PM Modi’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with discussions covering bilateral ties, regional conflicts, multilateral cooperation, border peace, maritime security and the priorities of the Global SouthOn Sunday, PM Modi also chaired the BRICS session on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”, where he outlined key initiatives under India’s four priority pillars of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
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PM Modi said the grouping had placed emphasis on strengthening resilience amid growing conflicts, pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptionsHe highlighted the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines for disaster management and the BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation FrameworkUnder innovation, he highlighted the BRICS Incubator Network, the proposed BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, which will connect AI, geospatial technology and Digital Public Infrastructure with the needs of farmers.
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The Prime Minister also said India had sought to ensure that BRICS cooperation remained inclusive and involved entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth and ordinary citizens“From my personal experience, I can say that the Global South countries’ confidence in BRICS has grown, because within BRICS: Their voices are heardTheir experiences are respectedAnd solutions are developed not for them, but together with them,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the strength of BRICS lay in its diversity and cooperation and stressed that solutions developed within the grouping should be adaptable and accessible to the wider Global South.
PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 11 on the margins of the BRICS SummitIt was their second meeting this year, following their meeting on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people domainsThey also welcomed Russia’s International Industrial Exhibition “INNOPROM India”, held in India from September 9-11The leaders discussed India-Russia engagement in the multilateral sphere, particularly BRICS under India’s 2026 chairship, besides exchanging views on regional and global issues, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region that have affected maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.
PM Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward in resolving conflicts and said India stood ready to assist in peace effortsThe two leaders agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, which the MEA said continues to register significant growth and has shown resilience amid geopolitical uncertaintiesPutin invited PM Modi to visit Russia for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit, which the Prime Minister acceptedOn September 12, PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
The two leaders welcomed the steady progress in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Tianjin in August 2025 and reaffirmed that both countries should take a strategic and long-term perspective of their tiesThe two sides agreed that differences should not become disputes, while Modi highlighted the importance of three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
PM Modi also stressed that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remained an essential basis for the continued development of bilateral relations and underlined the need for both sides to observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issuesThe two leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question, proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoplesThey also discussed people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility, besides economic and trade issues, including structural trade imbalance, supply-chain issues and meaningful and predictable market access.
The leaders agreed to continue expanding common ground on regional and global issuesPM Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on September 11 on the sidelines of the BRICS SummitIt was their second meeting in under two weeks, after they met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek.
The two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral relations, with PM Modi thanking Iran for its regular, high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite the challenging circumstancesThey also exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia, with Modi reiterating India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
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The Prime Minister underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce and the safety and well-being of seafarersOn Sunday, PM Modi met Burundi President and African Union Chairperson Évariste NdayishimiyeThe two leaders stressed that the India-African Union partnership is a key pillar of cooperation within the Global South and discussed the early convening of the 4th India-Africa Forum SummitWith South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, PM Modi reviewed the progress in diverse areas of cooperation and exchanged views on the multifaceted strategic partnershipIn the context of the successful translocation of cheetahs from South Africa to India, Modi invited South Africa to consider joining the International Big Cat Alliance.
With Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima Mustapha, PM Modi reviewed the multifaceted India-Nigeria relationship, with discussions focusing on trade and investment, defence and security, energy, agriculture, health and digital technologiesBoth sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-Nigeria Strategic PartnershipPM Modi also met Ugandan Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo and reviewed bilateral ties, with emphasis on technology partnerships, capacity building, knowledge sharing, investment facilitation and private-sector collaborationPM Modi reaffirmed India’s support to Uganda’s ‘Vision 2040’.
With Philippines President Ferdinand RMarcos Jr., PM Modi discussed further cooperation in defence and security, trade and investment, space, railway infrastructure, fintech, education, tourism, science and technology, innovation and people-to-people tiesPM Modi also met Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and reviewed cooperation in political, trade, defence and security, connectivity, energy, critical minerals, emerging technologies, creative economy and people-to-people tiesWith Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, PM Modi reviewed the strong momentum in the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership and discussed trade and investment, defence and security, technology, connectivity and people-to-people exchangesThe two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and stressed continued cooperation through BRICS to advance the priorities of the Global South.
On September 12, PM Modi met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and reiterated the significance of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, built on political, cultural, commercial, energy and people-to-people tiesThe leaders also discussed cooperation in strategic and emerging areas, including defence, space, nuclear energy, technology and innovationThey noted the announcement by the UAE’s International Holding Company of an investment of USD 11.5 billion in an integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha.
PM Modi also met Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and welcomed Vietnam’s participation in the BRICS Summit as a Partner CountryThe two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual importanceWith Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, PM Modi reviewed bilateral cooperation across trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties.
With inputs from ANI
