New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, with the two leaders discussing a range of global issues, including ongoing conflicts, freedom of navigation, sustainable development, artificial intelligence and food security.
Focus on multilateral reforms and global challenges
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders underlined the importance of multipolarity and stressed the need for reforms in multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to better reflect contemporary global realities.
The discussions also covered sustainable development, progress in renewable energy, human-centric artificial intelligence and global food security.
Guterres congratulates India on BRICS chairship
The UN Secretary-General congratulated Prime Minister Modi on India’s fourth BRICS Chairship and appreciated the country’s role in strengthening multilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi later said the meeting covered India’s BRICS Presidency, commitment to multilateralism and the urgent need for reforms in global institutions.
“Had a wonderful meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Discussed multiple subjects including the ground covered in India’s BRICS Presidency, India’s commitment to strengthening multilateralism and the urgent need for UN reforms,” Modi said in a post on X.
Summit begins on September 12
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, have already arrived in the national capital for the summit.
Also attending the summit are New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Zou Jiayi.
