Asia-Pacific

Indian PM leaves for BRICS summit in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-12 15:24

NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday left for China to attend a summit meeting of BRICS countries in Sanya of the southern Chinese province of Hainan, said official sources.

Before leaving, Singh said BRICS nations should coordinate in key areas of development because "the traditional sources of economic growth are still under stress".

"The traditional sources of economic growth are still under stress, even as fresh uncertainties have emerged as a result of recent developments in different parts of the world," he said in a media statement ahead of his departure.

"Our positions on some key areas such as sustainable development, balanced growth, energy and food security, reform of international financial institutions and balanced trade, that will be to our advantage," he said.

Singh also welcomed the participation of South Africa for the first time in the BRICS summit.

"India welcomes South Africa's membership of BRICS, which will provide an African perspective to our deliberations," he said.