modi tour to south africa

PM Modi embarks on three-day visit to South Africa to attend BRICS Summit | Details

South africa is hosting the brics summit from august 22-24 at the city's sandton convention centre. this will be the first in-person brics summit since the covid-19 pandemic..

PM Modi to Attend 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa’s Johannesburg. Check Full Itinerary

Curated By : Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Last Updated: August 21, 2023, 23:37 IST

New Delhi, India

PM Modi poses for a family photo during the 15th BRICS Summit in Brasilia with Presidents of Russia Vladimir Putin, China, Xi Jinping, South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and former Brazilian President Bolsonaro in this file photo. (Image: Reuters)

PM Modi Johannesburg Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa’s Johannesburg and will also visit Greece.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day visit to South Africa and Greece from Tuesday. During his three-day visit to Johannesburg, Prime Minister Modi will attend the 15th BRICS Summit at the invitation of President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.

The summit will be held from August 22 to August 24. This is the first in-person BRICS summit to be held since 2019. The BRICS grouping consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

PM Modi’s Aug 22 Schedule

The Prime Minister will arrive at Waterkloof Air Force Base around 5.15 pm. Two hours later, he will attend BRICS Business Forum Leaders’ Dialogue. At 9:30 pm, he will participate in BRICS Leaders’ Retreat.

The BRICS nations represent 42% of the world’s population along with a significant 27% of the global GDP. The theme of the summit this year is BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism .

“The summit will provide an opportunity to review progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping and identify future areas of activity,” the external affairs ministry said in a press release.

PM Modi will also take part in the special event BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue which are being organised after the BRICS leadership summit. This will include other nations invited by South Africa.

PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders who will be present in Johannesburg. The MEA said that the itinerary of bilateral meetings is still evolving.

A business delegation will travel with PM Modi to South Africa. They will attend BRICS business track meetings and also the BRICS Business Council, BRICS Women Business Alliance and the BRICS Business Forum meetings.

Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend the BRICS Summit in person and will also undertake a state visit. This is the second time Xi Jinping is stepping outside China this year after his cross border trip to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be present in Johannesburg due to the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin in March this year, linking him to the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children.

BRICS Expansion

The external affairs ministry during a special briefing on Monday ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s departure said India has positive intent and an open mind when it comes to BRICS expansion. “There is considerable interest among many nations to join BRICS. As far as BRICS expansion is concerned, we are clear, we have a positive intent and an open mind when it comes to BRICS expansion. Discussions are ongoing between Sherpas of BRICS nations regarding expansion and to reach a consensus,” foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said.

Greece Visit

PM Modi will also visit Greece on August 25 at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This is the first time in 40 years an Indian Prime Minister is embarking on an official visit to Athens. Both leaders will discuss ways to further deepen the relationship and PM Modi will also interact with business leaders from both countries, as well as with the Indian community in Greece.

“India and Greece enjoy civilizational ties, which have strengthened in recent years through cooperation in areas like maritime transport, defence, trade and investments and people-to-people ties,” the external affairs ministry said in a press release.

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• Narendra Modi

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PM Modi confirms he will travel to South Africa for Brics Summit. What it means

Mea spokesperson arindam bagchi reiterated india’s position that brics should be expanded through “full consultation and consensus” among members of the bloc..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday confirmed his in-person participation in the Brics Summit in Johannesburg during August 22-24, ending speculation that the meet could become a virtual affair following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision not to attend.

Watch: Xi Behind Modi's BRICS Decision? PM To Travel To South Africa For Summit Despite No Putin

During a phone call with Modi on Thursday evening, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa invited the prime minister to the Brics Summit and briefed him on preparations for the meeting. “PM accepted the invitation and conveyed that he looked forward to his visit to Johannesburg to participate in the summit,” the external affairs ministry said in a readout of the conversation.

The ministry had earlier described as “speculative” media reports that Modi might skip the summit of the leaders of Brazil , Russia, India , China and South Africa. Russia has said Putin will join the summit virtually while foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will lead a delegation to Johannesburg.

It is understood that Ramaphosa spoke to Modi on Thursday to ensure his in-person attendance at the summit. The two leaders “positively assessed” the progress in bilateral cooperation and discussed a number of regional and global issues, according to the readout.

Ramaphosa conveyed his full support for India’s initiatives under its G20 presidency and said he looked forward to visiting India to attend the G20 Summit.

ALSO READ: Exercise caution on plans to expand Brics

Modi’s in-person participation could set the stage for a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the summit. The two leaders have not met since the start of the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in May 2020, though they exchanged pleasantries and talked of the need to stabilise bilateral ties during a brief encounter at a dinner during last year’s G20 Summit in Indonesia.

A contentious proposal for expanding Brics by admitting new members is expected to figure prominently at the summit, people familiar with the matter said. Argentina , Cuba, Congo, Iran , Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are among some 30 countries that have expressed interest in joining the bloc.

Brics works by consensus and all five members of the grouping have to agree on new entrants. India’s greatest concern has been the entry of countries that can make Brics a China-centric bloc, the people said. The Indian side is open to the expansion of Brics by consensus and the entry of partners such as the UAE, though it has reservations about letting in countries perceived as close to China, the people added.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reiterated India’s position that Brics should be expanded through “full consultation and consensus” among members of the bloc.

“We have talked about India’s position on expansion, we have clarified our position in the past. As mandated by the leaders last year, Brics members are internally discussing the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for the Brics expansion process on the basis of full consultation and consensus,” he told a weekly media briefing.

Bagchi dismissed reports about India opposing the expansion. “As our external affairs minister had mentioned, we are approaching this with an open mind and a positive outlook. We have seen some baseless speculation that India has reservations against expansion. This is simply not true,” he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Brics will be strengthened by adding new members. “Of course, we believe that in one form or another, the expansion of Brics will contribute to the further development and strengthening of this organisation,” he said.

Peskov was commenting on Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s remarks that it was “extremely important” for Saudi Arabia to join Brics along with Argentina and the UAE. Peskov said Russia has constructive ties with all these three countries but “we don’t think we need to get ahead of ourselves” regarding specific candidate nations before the issue is discussed at the Brics summit.

Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail

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India PM Modi to Travel to South Africa for BRICS Summit

FILE PHOTO: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a meeting at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris France July 14, 2023. JULIEN DE ROSA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg to attend a summit of the BRICS group of nations this month, the Indian government said on Thursday.

BRICS' current five members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are due to convene there on Aug. 22-24.

China and Russia are keen to discuss expansion of the organisation which aims to offset the perceived hegemony of the U.S.-led West in global affairs. India has reservations about accepting more members.

Modi spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by phone earlier on Thursday, India's government said.

South Africa's president said he was interested in visiting India for the G20 summit later this year, according to the statement.

India holds the presidency of the G20 grouping and will host a summit of its leaders in early September.

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Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters .

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Prime Minister Modi arrives in South Africa to attend 15th BRICS summit

JOHANNESBURG: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed upon his arrival in South Africa on Tuesday on a three-day official visit during which he will attend the 15th BRICS summit and hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.

Modi was welcomed by South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile at Waterkloof Air Force Base where he received a ceremonial guard of honour.

"PM @narendramodi touches down at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, South Africa. Warmly received by Deputy President @PMashatile of South Africa. Accorded a ceremonial welcome upon arrival," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Modi is visiting the African country from August 22 to 24 at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

South Africa is hosting the first in-person summit of BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, since 2019.

"PM @narendramodi touches down at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, South Africa.

Warmly received by Deputy President @PMashatile of South Africa.

Accorded a ceremonial welcome upon arrival," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to South Africa entails participation in the 15th BRICS Summit and engagements with leaders of BRICS and invited countries in plurilateral and bilateral settings, he added.

A large number of Indian community members, including activists of the Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj and the local chapter of the BAPS Swaminarayan organisation, greeted the prime minister.

Modi then left for Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, the venue of the BRICS Summit.

At the hotel, he met with local and expatriate Indian community members ahead of the BRICS Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue.

The Indian community members carrying national flags and musical instruments welcomed Modi upon his arrival at the hotel with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

"Gratitude to South Africa's Indian community for the special welcome in Johannesburg," Modi posted on platform X along with some pictures of his interaction with the diaspora.

Two women diaspora members tied 'rakhi' around the wrist of Modi ahead of Raksha Bandhan, falling on August 30.

Earlier in his departure statement in New Delhi, Modi said 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," he said.

This summit will provide a useful opportunity for BRICS to identify future areas of cooperation and review institutional development, he said.

Modi posted on X that he will also take part in the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue events.

The Summit will give the platform to discuss issues of concern for the Global South and other areas of development.

The BRICS bloc - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.

Over 20 heads of state from Africa and the Middle East have also been invited to attend.

A number of them have applied to become members of BRICS, which is one of the matters on the agenda for the Summit.

Modi said in the statement that he looked forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this event.

"I also look forward to holding bilateral meetings with some of the Leaders present in Johannesburg," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the BRICS summit virtually due to him facing possible arrest in terms of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant if he lands in South Africa.

From South Africa, the prime minister will travel to Greece on August 25 at the invitation of his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

It will be his first visit to this ancient land.

"I have the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years," he said.

Contacts between our two civilizations stretch back over two millennia and, in modern times, our ties have been strengthened by shared values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism, he said.

Cooperation in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence, and cultural and people-to-people contacts have been bringing our two countries closer, he added.

He looked forward to visiting Greece and opening a new chapter in our multifaceted relationship, Modi said, adding that he will also be interacting with the Indian community there.

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PM Modi arrives in South Africa to attend 15th BRICS summit

Modi was welcomed by South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed upon his arrival in South Africa on Tuesday on a three-day official visit during which he will attend the 15th BRICS summit and hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.

Modi was welcomed by South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile at Waterkloof Air Force Base where he received a ceremonial guard of honour.

"PM @narendramodi touches down at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, South Africa. Warmly received by Deputy President @PMashatile of South Africa. Accorded a ceremonial welcome upon arrival," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Prime Minister Modi's three-day visit to South Africa entails participation in the 15th BRICS Summit and engagements with leaders of BRICS and invited countries in plurilateral and bilateral settings, he added.

A large number of Indian community members, including activists of the Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj and the local chapter of the BAPS Swaminarayan organisation, greeted him.

Modi then left for Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, the venue of the BRICS Summit. At the hotel, he met with local and expatriate Indian community members ahead of the BRICS Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue. The Indian community members carrying musical instruments welcomed prime minister upon his arrival at the hotel.

At the community meeting, Modi is expected to view a model of the huge Swaminarayan Mandir which has been under construction since 2017 and is expected to be completed next year. The new temple at North Riding, north of Johannesburg, will be similar to one in Nairobi in Kenya, which is built entirely of stone. It will also include classrooms and a clinic.

Modi is visiting the African country from August 22 to 24 at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africa is hosting the first in-person summit of BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, since 2019.

Earlier in his departure statement in New Delhi, Modi said 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," he said.

This summit will provide a useful opportunity for BRICS to identify future areas of cooperation and review institutional development, he said.

Modi posted on X that he will also take part in the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue events. The Summit will give the platform to discuss issues of concern for the Global South and other areas of development.

The BRICS bloc - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.

Over 20 heads of state from Africa and the Middle East have also been invited to attend. A number of them have applied to become members of BRICS, which is one of the matters on the agenda for the Summit.

Modi said in the statement that he looked forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this event.

"I also look forward to holding bilateral meetings with some of the Leaders present in Johannesburg," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the BRICS summit virtually due to him facing possible arrest in terms of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant if he lands in South Africa.

From South Africa, the prime minister will travel to Greece on August 25 at the invitation of his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It will be his first visit to this ancient land. "I have the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years," he said.

Contacts between our two civilizations stretch back over two millennia and, in modern times, our ties have been strengthened by shared values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism, he said.

Cooperation in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence, and cultural and people-to-people contacts have been bringing our two countries closer, he added.

He looked forward to visiting Greece and opening a new chapter in our multifaceted relationship, Modi said, adding that he will also be interacting with the Indian community there.

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Pm modi to travel to south africa for brics summit putting all speculations to rest.

Modi had a telephone conversation with Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa. The two leaders positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation, including in the context of the thirtieth anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations being celebrated in 2023, according to an official statement here.

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PM Modi's South Africa visit to attend BRICS Summit: Dates, itinerary, scheduled events, and more

Pm modi to attend the 15th brics summit in south africa, marking the first in-person meeting in three years. he will also visit greece..

BRICS Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for South Africa on Tuesday to participate in the 15th BRICS summit , a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The summit will take place from August 22 to August 24. 

Notably, it will be the first in-person BRICS Summit after three consecutive years of virtual meetings owing to the Covid-19 pandemic . This will be PM Modi's third visit to South Africa and the trip marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between India and South Africa.

In an official statement, the Prime Minister's Office said, “I am visiting the Republic of South Africa from 22-24 August 2023 at the invitation Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, to attend the 15th BRICS Summit being held in Johannesburg under the South African Chairmanship. I also look forward to holding bilateral meetings with some of the Leaders present in Johannesburg."

PM Modi's South Africa visit schedule

Itinerary in local South African time below, 

0710 hrs: Departure from Delhi

1345 hrs: Arrival at Waterkloof Air Force Base

1555 hrs: Arrival at Sandton Convention Centre

1600-1700 hrs: BRICS Business Forum Leaders’ Dialogue

1800 hrs: Arrival at Summer Place

1800-2000 hrs: BRICS Leaders Retreat, Welcome Dinner hosted by President Ramaphosa

PM Modi's visit to Greece

Following the summit, PM Modi will go to Greece - the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the ancient country in 40 years.

"From South Africa, I will travel to Athens, Greece on 25 August 2023 at the invitation of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece PM. This will be my first visit to this ancient land. I have the honor to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years," the statement added. 

Providing details about the PM's trip , foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "For the 15th BRICS Summit, a business delegation from India is also traveling to South Africa to attend the Business Tracks meetings and also the meetings of the BRICS Business Council, BRICS Women Business Alliance , and the BRICS Business Forum."

During his visit to South Africa, PM Modi will also participate in a special event "BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue" being organized after the BRICS Summit, which will include other nations invited by South Africa. 

In addition, PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg.

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PM Modi Leaves For Four-Day Visit To South Africa, Greece

PM Modi said that BRICS has been actively engaged in fostering a robust collaboration agenda across diverse sectors, and serves as a platform to deliberate upon issues of significance for the entire Global South.

PM Modi said he looks forward to holding bilateral meetings with some of the leaders in Johannesburg.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a four-day visit to South Africa and Greece. In South Africa, PM Modi will attend the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg from August 22-24 at the invitation of the country's president Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.

PM Modi said that he looks forward to holding bilateral meetings with "some of the leaders present in Johannesburg".

"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,” the PM said in a statement.

BRICS is a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

BRICS summit will be held from August 22-24. This will be PM Modi's third visit to South Africa and the trip marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between India and South Africa.

This year's BRICS is under the presidency of South Africa. The theme of this year's summit is: "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism"

This will be the first in-person BRICS Summit after three consecutive years of virtual meetings owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PM further said: “During my stay in Johannesburg, I will also participate in BRICS–Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue event that will be held as part of the BRICS Summit activities. I look forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this event.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the 15th BRICS Summit virtually while the Russian delegation will be led by foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. He will also participate in a special event with the theme “Brics – Africa outreach and Brics plus dialogue”.

This is being organised after the BRICS Summit and will include dozens of countries, mostly from the African continent, invited by South Africa.

From South Africa, the PM will travel to Athens, Greece on Friday at the invitation of Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “This will be my first visit to this ancient land. I have the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years,” the PM said, according to the release.

“Contacts between our two civilizations stretch back over two millennia. In modern times, our ties have been strengthened by shared values of democracy, the 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,” the PM said on the civilizational ties between India and Greece.

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“I look forward to my visit to Greece opening a new chapter in our multifaceted relationship,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PM Modi to travel to South Africa for BRICS summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg to attend a summit of the BRICS group of nations this month, the Indian government said on Thursday. BRICS' current five members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are due to convene there on August 22-24. China and Russia are keen to discuss expansion of the organisation which aims to offset the perceived hegemony of the US-led West in global affairs. India has reservations about accepting more members.

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PM Modi’s visit to South Africa to help Indian community, says diaspora member

Written By: ANI

| Published on: Aug 22, 2023

ANI Photo | PM Modi’s visit to South Africa to help Indian community, says diaspora member

Indian diaspora in Johannesburg on Monday said that PM Modi’s visit to South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit will be highly beneficial for the Indian community, adding that the BRICS summit holds the potential of enhancing bilateral trade and cooperation between South Africa and India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit South Africa at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s invitation to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24. CEO of Concept Digicom Srishti Sumani said: “PM Modi’s visit to South Africa is going to be a highly beneficial one because there are a lot of Indian communities here in South Africa, lots of expat Indians as well.” The group of nations known as BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — represents a quarter of the world’s economy. She said: “The Indian culture is just growing… I feel like all of his speeches and his thoughts are very futuristic and it’s going to really help the Indian community here…We are excited for PM Modi’s visit. We are going to organise a ‘Rakhi’ ceremony as well for PM Modi…” CEO of Alfeco Group Sachin Ahuja on the PM’s visit said it is going to add to all the bilateral trade, other agreements which are going to be beneficial for both countries- South Africa and India. “We all welcome him… BRICS summit provides a platform for all the developing nation to boost their bilateral trade. If you look at the participant countries, they represent 60 per cent of the trade of the world. So we are quite optimistic that BRICS can provide a formidable platform for trade…” he said. [{f882f9a5-6c9b-4716-af77-77bb33b0581c:intradmin/ANI-20230821194854.jpg}] The founding member and Director of the first Gurdwara Saheb in South Africa, Harbinder Singh Sethi said, “We are very happy that PM Modi is coming to South Africa. We expect the relationship between India and South Africa to deepen after this BRICS Summit.” He further added by saying: “We wish that PM Modi should encourage big Indian companies to come to Africa and employ locals in big numbers so that unemployment decreases. This way both the nations can grow together…” This year’s BRICS is under the presidency of South Africa. South Africa became the Chair of BRICS on January 1 under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.” Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that India has a really positive intent for the expansion of BRICS and supports it with an open mind. In a special briefing ahead the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Africa for the BRICS meeting, he said, “In so far as BRICS expansion is concerned, we have been clear from the start that we have positive intent and an open mind when it comes to BRICS expansion. Those are the subject matters of ongoing current discussion between the Sherpas of the BRICS in South Africa and I would not want to prejudge the outcome of the discussions.”Kwatra added, “There is considerable interest in many countries to become part of BRICS and to associate themselves with BRICS to leverage various opportunities that the alliance presents for itself.” During his visit to South Africa, PM Modi will also participate in a special event “BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue” being organized after the BRICS Summit, which will include other nations invited by South Africa, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced in a press release. He will also hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin will join the 15th BRICS Summit virtually while the Russian delegation will be led by foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. After wrapping up the BRICS meeting, PM Modi will travel to Greece on August 25. (ANI)

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PM Modi to Travel to South Africa for BRICS Summit Modi spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by phone earlier on Thursday, India's government said.

China and Russia are keen to discuss expansion of the organisation which aims to offset the perceived hegemony of the U.S.-led West in global affairs. India has reservations about accepting more members.  

Modi spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by phone earlier on Thursday, India’s government said.

South Africa’s president said he was interested in visiting India for the G20 summit later this year, according to the statement.

India holds the presidency of the G20 grouping and will host a summit of its leaders in early September.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg to attend a summit of the BRICS group of nations this month, the Indian government said on Thursday.

BRICS’ current five members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are due to convene there on Aug. 22-24.

China and Russia are keen to discuss expansion of the organisation which aims to offset the perceived hegemony of the U.S.-led West in global affairs. India has reservations about accepting more members.

Modi spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by phone earlier on Thursday, India’s government said.

South Africa’s president said he was interested in visiting India for the G20 summit later this year, according to the statement.

India holds the presidency of the G20 grouping and will host a summit of its leaders in early September.

(Reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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NB Explains | PM Modi to travel to South Africa for BRICS summit; know why it is important

Speculation about a modi-xi meeting has grown following a series of high-level contacts between india and china in recent weeks..

Modi's visit to South Africa

This will also be the first in-person brics summit since 2019, and the meeting will be an opportunity to “review the progress of the initiatives launched by the grouping and identify future areas of activity..

PM Modi to visit #Greece on 25th August following his visit to #SouthAfrica to attend the #BRICS summit. This will be the first visit by an Indian PM🇮🇳 to Greece🇬🇷 in 40 years. Both countries are expected to elevate their ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. pic.twitter.com/hqRNu1gNKg — Rahul Agarwal 𑀭𑀸𑀳𑀼𑀮 𑀅𑀕𑁆𑀭𑀯𑀸𑀮🇮🇳 (@agrrahul7) August 18, 2023

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Is China behind PM Modi’s decision to travel to South Africa for BRICS summit?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg to attend the BRICS summit from 22 August to 24 August and not attend the meeting virtually as earlier speculated. As China tries to dominate the bloc and with talks of expansion on the cards, the PM’s decision matters

There was increased speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the summit of BRICS nations in South Africa virtually. But in a move that has surprised many, who thought he would follow Russian president Vladimir Putin’s footsteps, the PM has decided to travel to Johannesburg where leaders of the bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will gather.

The Indian premier spoke to South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and accepted the invitation to visit Johannesburg for the meeting from 22 August to 24 August.

How Modi decided to attend BRICS summit

After their telephonic conversation, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, “President Ramaphosa invited the PM for the BRICS Summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24, 2023 and briefed him on the preparations for the same. The PM accepted the invitation and conveyed that he looked forward to his visit to Johannesburg to participate in the Summit.”

They “positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation, including in the context of the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations being celebrated in 2023”, the statement said. It also said that they also exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.

Also read: Dumping the Dollar: Will a new BRICS currency replace the US currency for trade?

There were reports that like Putin, Modi would attend the summit virtually. Reuters reported on 2 August that the PM would not travel to South Africa. One Indian government official told the news agency that there was growing discomfort in New Delhi about being part of groupings like BRICS and SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation> which China dominates, especially as India inches closer to the United States and other Western powers.

China and Russia, which are facing isolation from the US and the European Union, are constantly looking to expand their economic influence over developing countries. But even as Beijing tries to assert its importance, India and Brazil have their say in the bloc. And it is crucial that they make their presence felt.

Why Modi’s visit is important

PM Modi’s decision to go to South Africa matters. It comes at a time when around 20 countries have formally applied to join the BRICS . They include Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran, and Venezuela, said Brazilian foreign affairs minister Mauro Vieira recently.

Among these, Saudi Arabia and UAE are considered close allies of India. However, the issue is said to have raised some concerns among members of the bloc many fearing that their influence would decrease if pro-China nations are admitted.

The important decision on whether to expand the five-nation bloc is likely to be taken in Johannesburg, reports Hindustan Times . The focus will be on including Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

A Bloomberg article in late July said that India and Brazil were pushing back against China’s bid to rapidly expand BRICS to grow its political clout and take on the US. The two countries reportedly raised objections in preparatory talks in the run-up to the summit.

India wants strict rules on how and when other nations could move close to the group without formally expanding it. India and Brazil want to discuss bringing in additional nations with observer status, the report said.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday reiterated India’s position that BRICS should be expanded through “full consultation and consensus” among members of the bloc.

“We have talked about India’s position on expansion, we have clarified our position in the past. As mandated by the leaders last year, BRICS members are internally discussing the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and procedures for the BRICS expansion process on the basis of full consultation and consensus,” the MEA spokesperson told a regular media briefing.

What is Russia’s stance?

Russia does not have a firm position on expanding BRICS, Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defence, told Bloomberg .

“It’s broadly in favour of BRICS expansion, but without any enthusiasm. It is following others’ lead. We won’t block any decision.”

Members of BRICS have not sanctioned Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Putin’s possible attendance put South Africa in a fix at first. But the Russian president has decided to participate virtually. With this, he avoids the risk of arrest on a warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine if he travels to the country, which is a member of the tribunal.

South Africa took over the chair of BRICS from China at the beginning of this year. The summit in Johannesburg comes at a time when ties between Beijing and Washington remain tense. Relations between New Delhi and Beijing also hit a low after a clash in Galwan in 2020 in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed.

With inputs from agencies

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Explore South Africa: Five wonderful places to see

I n addition to the famous Table Mountain, Soweto Towers, and the Cango Caves, there is a multitude of things to see in South Africa that will leave you amazed.

THE TALLEST RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Ponte Tower, also known as the  Ponte City Apartments , in Johannesburg is the tallest residential building in the whole of Africa. Manfred Hermer designed the building. It was built in 1975. The building looks like a tube with an open centre that lets in light. The building comprises 54 storeys. Looking up at the sky from the inner courtyard can leave one feeling dizzy.

THE WORLD’S LARGEST PINEAPPLE BUILDING

The Big Pineapple outside of Bathurst in the Eastern Cape, is the world’s largest pineapple building. Most of the surrounding area is agricultural land. Pineapple production is a main industry. Farmers who settled in the area in the 18th century struggled to successfully grow crops until they began planting pineapples. So, naturally, locals decided to honour the fruit and the sweet earnings it brought by erecting a massive building in its shape. Members of Bathurst’s agricultural community constructed the  Big Pineapple  in the 1980s.

AMAZING BOOK LOVERS’ EXPERIENCE

In Johannesburg’s CBD lies a magnificent treasure for book lovers and those interested in history.  Collectors Treasury  houses over one million items that occupy nearly every inch of this eight-story building. It’s the largest shop selling rare and used books on the continent. Visitors will be amazed by what they see. If you look carefully, you will find some rare treasures such as first-edition books and books that you will not find anywhere else. In addition to books, Collectors Treasury also has maps, prints, engravings, newspapers, photographs, and thousands of vinyl records.

ANCIENT CALENDAR BUILT WITH STONES

Adam’s Calendar, also known as the Enkis Calendar, is a standing stone circle about 30m in diameter in Mpumalanga. Many people call it the “African Stonehenge” because of the similarities to Stonehenge in Britain. It is an estimated 75 000 years old, and many experts believe it is the world’s oldest man-made structure.  Adam’s Calendar  is probably the only fully functional and almost intact megalithic stone calendar in the world. This is one of the most amazing things to see in South Africa. The site drew public attention in 2003 when the pilot Johan Heine started photographing the region. Initially, experts thought that the ruins were remains of a cattle kraal.

SA’S VERY FIRST POST BOX

South Africa’s first post office was a tree! The  Post Office Tree  in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape marks the spot where a a Portuguese sea captain “posted” the first letter in the country. During the 1500s, Pedro D’Ataide’s ship was separated from the other ships travelling along the east. D’Ataide landed at Mossel Bay (then called the “watering place of São Brás”). He left a letter in a Portuguese sailor’s shoe tied to a tree. The fourth Portuguese fleet to India found his letter in July 1501. The letter warned them of rough waters to the east. The captain of this fleet, in turn, left an inscription on stone which was found in 1850. Leaving post ashore became a means of communication between ships that anchored in the bay for supplies.

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The post Explore South Africa: Five wonderful places to see appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News .