Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left New Delhi on a 4-day visit to Durban for attending the 5th BRICS Summit expressing the hope that ways to revive global growth and faster movement on reform of institutions of global, political and economic governance will be discussed at the meeting of the emerging economies.
Accompanied by a high-power delegation including Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma,Dr.Singh will attend the two day summit of five nations beginning tomorrow .Discussions will also be held on steps to ensure global macroeconomic stability as well as mechanisms and measures to promote investment in infrastructure and sustainable development.
In his departure statement,Dr. Singh said the Durban Summit provides a useful and timely opportunity to consult and coordinate on a broad range of issues with BRICS partners.
The first BRICS Summit on the African soil is expected to declare the launching of a development bank for undertaking infrastructure and development projects. The idea of the bank,mooted by India last year during its presidency, has been supported by China.Finance Ministers of BRICS nations will meet in Durban tomorrow to give final touches to the bank.
Given India's long-standing and close friendship with Africa and the growing economic partnership with the continent
including through the India-Africa Forum Summit mechanism,Dr.Singh said he looked forward to the dialogue that BRICS leaders would have between themselves and, in a special retreat, with a larger number of distinguished African leaders who would be coming to Durban.
As the current BRICS chair, the Prime Minister said India received the unstinted support of its partners in successfully implementing the ambitious agenda adopted at the New Delhi Summit in March last year.
In his statement, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to meeting with the new Chinese President Xi Jinpeng to discuss how India and China can maintain the positive trajectory of relationship and further strengthen
this very important bilateral relationship.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Dr.Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with other leaders including RussiaPresident Vladimir Putin,President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil .
