PM Modi leaves for Brazil after concluding ‘productive’ Argentina visit

<p> Buenos Aires, Jul 5 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for Brazil, where he will attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro after concluding his “productive” two-day visit to Argentina.  Modi is on a five-nation visit, and Argentina was his third stop.</p><p> “My visit to Argentina has been a productive one. I am confident that our discussions will add significant momentum to our bilateral friendship and fulfil the strong potential that exists. I thank President Milei, the Government, and the people of Argentina for their warmth,” he said in an X post.</p><p> “After a fruitful visit to Argentina, PM @narendramodi has departed from Buenos Aires for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.</p><p> During his visit, Modi held talks with President Javier Milei and agreed to diversify the bilateral trade basket.  In their wide-ranging talks, the two leaders emphasised boosting bilateral defence cooperation as it will serve each other’s strategic interests.</p><p> In the meeting, the prime minister also thanked President Milei for extending strong support to India following the Pahalgam terror attack and appreciated Argentina’s solidarity during this difficult period.</p><p> Though Modi visited Argentina in 2018 to attend the G20 summit, this was the first bilateral visit to the country by an Indian prime minister after a gap of 57 years.</p><p> Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi laid a wreath here at the memorial of General Jose de San Martin, regarded as a national hero in Argentina.</p><p> During his visit to Brazil, he will attend the BRICS Summit, among other engagements.</p><p> In his departure statement, Prime Minister Modi said India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies.</p><p> “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order,” he said.</p><p> BRICS, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has been expanded with five additional members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.</p><p> Modi arrived here from Trinidad and Tobago where he held bilateral talks with counterpart Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the two countries inked six agreements to shore up their cooperation in several sectors, including infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and culture.</p><p> In the final leg of his visit, Modi will travel to Namibia. PTI GSP GRS GRS GRS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>