Ahead of the BRICS summit in Russia, President Vladimir Putin held a media briefing on Friday, making various announcements, including the participation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Putin stated that BRICS remains open to new members and mentioned that as the organisation evolves, even countries that are not members will gain economic benefits.

Putin also referred to Modi's government stance regarding the BRICS summit, quoting him: "BRICS was never meant to be against anyone. The Indian Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) said that BRICS is not an anti-western group; it is a non-western group..."

Earlier in January, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stated that India, while being non-Western and a member of BRICS, does not oppose the West. He highlighted that the West is an essential partner for India in various sectors, including investments and mobility, stating that BRICS is a diverse group where India is non-Western but not anti-Western.

'Doors Are Open'

Putin stated that the nations in BRICS are key contributors to global economic growth and projected that BRICS will be responsible for the majority of the increase in global GDP in the near future. He expressed Russia's desire for collaboration with other countries to reform the global financial system and reduce the US dollar's dominance. Additionally, China, India, and the UAE confirmed on Friday that their leaders would participate in the upcoming summit in Kazan.

Putin mentioned that 30 countries worldwide have shown interest in collaborating with the BRICS grouping, and the upcoming summit will explore potential options for expanding the group. He assured reporters from BRICS nations that "the doors are open, and we are not excluding anyone.

Putin Highlights Indian Film Popularity and Dedicated Broadcasting in Russia

In response to a question about potential incentives for BRICS member states to shoot films in Russia, President Putin noted that Indian films are particularly popular in the country, highlighting the presence of a dedicated TV channel for Indian movies.

Putin mentioned the ongoing BRICS film festival and the inclusion of films from BRICS nations in this year's Moscow International Film Festival. Putin expressed optimism about finding common ground to promote Indian films in Russia and also suggested that pharmaceuticals could be a fruitful area for collaboration. He indicated his willingness to discuss these opportunities with the Prime Minister of India.