South Africa denies 'rumours' Modi will skip BRICS summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the next BRICS summit to be held Johannesburg in-person from August 22, the South African government has said.

It dismissed some media reports as "rumours" that the Indian leader will not take part in the meeting of the five-nation grouping.

The BRICS bloc - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.

Briefing the media on South Africa's preparations for the 15th edition of the summit, minister of international relations and cooperation Naledi Pandor said on Monday (7) that the leaders of Brazil, China, India and host South Africa will participate in a range of discussions.

Russian president Vladimir Putin will participate virtually, due to an ICC warrant which would have obliged South Africa to arrest him if he came in person.

“I did speak to various colleagues in government and outside, and everybody was astounded by this rumour. I think that someone who is trying to spoil our summit is creating all sorts of stories that suggest that it won't be successful,” Pandor said as she confirmed Modi's attendance.

“The prime minister of India has never said that he is not attending the summit. I am in constant contact with foreign minister Jaishankar. He has never said that. Our sherpas are in touch and they have never said it. So, we have all been trying to look for this needle in a haystack that began this rumour,” Pandor said.

(PTI)