The eighteenth BRICS summit with the participation of Vladimir Putin opened in New Delhi

NEW DELHI, September 12 - RIA Novosti. The eighteenth BRICS summit with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin opened in the Indian capital, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

"Excellencies, I am very pleased to welcome you all to India. India's BRICS Chairmanship this year is based on a 'people first' approach. Sustainability, innovation, cooperation and stability are our shared priorities," he said while opening the meeting.

The leaders of the association plan to discuss current issues on the global and regional agenda, the results of twenty years of interaction and prospects for the implementation of joint projects.

Putin arrived in India on Friday for a three-day working visit and has already held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. On Saturday, the Russian leader is scheduled to hold separate talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.

The summit takes place on September 12–13. India holds the BRICS presidency for the fourth time. Among the priorities of her chairmanship are deepening trade and economic cooperation, payments in national currencies, development of transport corridors, cooperation in the field of healthcare, food security and digital technologies.