Delhi to Rio, a journey begins

India and Brazil on Sunday affirmed their common vision for global prosperity as Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 presidential gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, marking the beginning of the journey from New Delhi to Rio De Janeiro, which will host the influential grouping in November next year.

- Sutirtho Patranobis

As the G20 Summit closed in New Delhi after an unexpected and historic consensus on the leaders declaration saw India churn out the highest number of documents and outcomes in the multilateral grouping's history, Modi also hailed the strong ties between two countries often considered the twin pillars of the Global South. "I want to congratulate Brazil's president and my friend Lula da Silva, and hand over the presidency's gavel to him," Modi said, effectively beginning the countdown for Brazil's formal ascendance to the presidency later this year.

Modi and Lula also met for a bilateral meeting later in the afternoon-their third this year, having met at the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg and during the G7 meeting in Hiroshima in May.

"Ties between India and Brazil are very strong. We talked about ways to boost trade and cooperation in agriculture, technology and more. I also conveyed my best wishes for Brazil's upcoming G20 Presidency," Modi said on X.