New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi will direct the annual summit of group BRICS of 5 countries on Thursday. The meeting, which will be held online, is expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan in a prominent way. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the 13th BRICS Summit.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting will also be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) comprise the world's five largest developing countries, representing 41 percent of the global population, 24 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), and 16 percent of global trade.

"Under the Chairmanship of India of BRICS in 2021, PM Modi will chair the 13th BRICS Summit in digital format on September 9," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. This is the second time that PM Modi will preside over the BRICS Summit. He had earlier led the Goa Conference in 2016. This year is the 15th anniversary of BRICS. The theme of the summit this time is: 'BRICS @15: Inter-BRICS cooperation for the sake of continuity, consolidation, and consensus.'

Know what's the full mega plan for BJP PM Modi's birthday?

Today is the birth anniversary of the country's brave son 'Shershaah'

Heavy rain with thunderstorms may occur in these states including Delhi