Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 15 bilateral meetings with leaders of BRICS member states and partner countries during three days of diplomacy on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The meetings gave India an opportunity to strengthen ties with major countries and discuss defence, energy, trade, infrastructure, technology, global conflicts and regional security.

Modi-Putin Meeting Focuses on India-Russia Ties

Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 11 for nearly 45 minutes. Their discussions covered India-Russia cooperation in defence, energy, trade, infrastructure, civil nuclear energy, critical minerals and technology.

Both leaders also discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the war involving the United States and Iran. Modi reiterated India's position that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

On the same day, Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. They discussed ways to strengthen India-Iran relations and exchanged views on developments in the Middle East.

Modi also met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his engagements in New Delhi.

Modi-Xi Meeting Becomes Key Highlight

On September 12, Modi held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Vietnam's Lê Minh Hưng.

The meeting with Xi attracted particular attention as it marked the Chinese President's first visit to India in seven years.

India and China agreed to continue efforts to resolve their border differences through dialogue. Both sides also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control.

Xi told Modi that India and China should work as partners and could learn from each other. The discussions came as both countries seek to improve bilateral relations following years of border tensions.

Read more: Putin Arrives in India for BRICS Summit, Meets PM Modi Today

Eight More Meetings on Day Three

Modi continued his diplomatic engagements on September 13 with eight more bilateral meetings.

He met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Discussions with these leaders focused mainly on strengthening India's bilateral partnerships and expanding cooperation in different areas.

India Uses BRICS Summit for Wider Diplomacy

The BRICS Summit was held on September 12 and 13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under India's chairship.

Leaders from 11 BRICS member countries and 10 partner countries attended the summit, along with representatives of international organisations.

India used the gathering not only to discuss the BRICS agenda but also to hold separate meetings with important global partners.

Why Modi's 15 Meetings Matter

The three-day diplomatic schedule reflects India's effort to strengthen relations across different regions while hosting the BRICS Summit.

Talks with Russia, China, Iran, South Africa, the UAE and other countries covered issues important to India's economic and strategic interests. Energy security, defence cooperation, trade, technology, infrastructure and global conflicts were among the major subjects discussed.

The meetings also gave India an opportunity to maintain dialogue with countries holding different positions on major international issues.