PM Modi backs BRICS expansion, calls for consensus based move

livemint.com:

Narendra Modi Wednesday called for the expansion of the five-nation grouping, while addressing the opening plenary session of the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg. He emphasized that India has given highest priority to countries of Global South under its G20 presidency. “India fully supports the expansion of BRICS and welcomes move to move forward on this based on consensus," the Indian prime minister said.

\“We welcome the move to give special importance to the countries of the Global South in BRICS under the chairmanship of South Africa. This is not just the aspiration, but also the need of the present times. India has also given importance to this subject under its G20 presidency.

One Earth One Family One Future - we are trying to move forward with all countries on this mantra. In the Voice of Global South summit in January this year, 125 countries participated and shared their concerns and priorities," he said. Prime Minister Modi also proposed a permanent membership of G20 to the African Union.

“I am confident that our BRICS partners will support this in G20," PM Modi added. PM Modi also called for establishing a BRICS space exploration consortium. “We are already working on the BRICS satellite constellation, but to move a step further, we should think about establishing a BRICS space exploration consortium," PM Modi said at the leaders’s summit.