Ufa: After wrapping up his Kazakhstan visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Ufa in Russia ahead of the BRICS and Shanghai Corporation Organisation summit.
"It is very special to be in Russia, a nation whose remarkable friendship with India has always been known," Modi said on his arrival.
He was accorded a warm welcome at the Ufa Airport and was treated with sweets.
"I am hopeful of productive meetings and interactions at the BRICS and SCO Summits, forums we attach immense importance to," the Prime Minister said.
Modi will hold meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Modi is also slated to hold bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on July 10 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Corporation summit.
An announcement with regard to India's membership of the six-nation grouping of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan is expected during the SCO summit on July 9-10.
A top Russian official yesterday said the process of India's membership will be completed by next year, along with that of Pakistan, to make it an eight-member body.
As of now, India has observer status in the 19-year-old grouping whose focus is on boosting connectivity, counter-terrorism cooperation, bolstering cooperation in energy sector, enhancing trade and dealing with drug trafficking.
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are expected to have a meeting to discuss the bilateral relations.
Indian envoy PS Raghavan said, "BRICS is no longer an organiation that can be dismissed, it has emerged as amajor force in the developing world, it is no longer just a 'talk shop' organisation. Major concerns about security, politics, and economy are discussed. And it has also become a major forum to solve issues and disputes."
(With additional information from PTI)
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