New Delhi, September 12: The 18th BRICS Summit began in New Delhi on Saturday with leaders of the expanded grouping discussing global conflicts, terrorism, economic cooperation and reforms in international institutions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
A key outcome of the first day was the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, in which BRICS leaders expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East and called for “maximum restraint” from all sides. The leaders stressed the importance of resolving international disputes through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy, while also calling for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The declaration also raised concerns over unilateral sanctions, tariffs and other trade restrictions, warning that such measures could affect international trade. The issue comes as BRICS members continue to discuss greater economic cooperation and ways to strengthen trade among member countries.
Terrorism was another major issue addressed at the summit. The BRICS declaration condemned the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 26 people were killed, and reaffirmed the grouping’s commitment to combating terrorism and terrorist financing. India has continued to call for stronger international cooperation against terrorism and greater consistency in addressing terrorist threats.
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the need for reforms in global institutions and called for greater representation of developing countries and the Global South in international decision-making. He supported reforms in institutions including the United Nations and the UN Security Council, arguing that emerging and developing economies should have a greater role in global governance.
The summit also provided an important diplomatic setting for India-China engagement. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India, his first in seven years according to the information provided, comes after years of strained relations following the 2020 border clashes. A meeting between Modi and Xi was scheduled on the sidelines of the summit, with bilateral relations, economic cooperation and regional and global developments expected to feature in their discussions.
Modi also met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit. Their discussions covered India-Russia cooperation in areas including defence, energy and trade, along with regional and global developments. India reiterated its position that international conflicts should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy.
Economic cooperation remained another focus of the BRICS discussions. Member countries are exploring ways to increase trade, improve cross-border payment connectivity and make international transactions more efficient. India has supported the greater use of national currencies and cooperation between domestic digital payment systems.
Despite discussions around reducing dependence on the US dollar, BRICS has not launched a common currency. The focus remains on improving payment mechanisms and economic cooperation among member countries.
The summit also reflects India’s effort to strengthen the role of BRICS as a platform for emerging and developing economies. At the same time, New Delhi has maintained an independent foreign-policy approach while engaging with major powers and countries across the Global South.
The first day of the summit therefore combined diplomatic engagement with discussions on security, trade and global governance. The adoption of the New Delhi Declaration provided a common framework on several issues, while bilateral meetings involving India, China and Russia added to the summit’s diplomatic significance.