BRICS Summit 2016: PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Lankan President Sirisena

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held bilateral talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on the sidelines of the ongoing BRICS Summit here. "Early morning bilaterals to begin a packed day of diplomacy. PM @narendramodi meets President @MaithripalaS of Sri Lanka for first engagement," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a picture of the two leaders.

Early morning bilaterals to begin a packed day of diplomacy. PM @narendramodi meets President @MaithripalaS of Sri Lanka for 1st engagement pic.twitter.com/2sOpjXC56I

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 16, 2016

Prime Minister Modi earlier welcomed the Sri Lankan President on his arrival. "A friend comes to India...glad to have President @MaithripalaS visit India for the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit," he tweeted soon after Sirisena landed at Dabolim Airport.

A friend comes to India…glad to have President @MaithripalaS visit India for the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit. @BRICS2016

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2016

Heads of states and governments of the five BRICS nations met later on Sunday on the second day of the BRICS Summit in Goa. Global economic and political situation, terrorism, climate change, Sustainable Development Goals and increasing people to people contact form the agenda of the Summit.

Goa Declaration and Goa Action Plan were adopted at the end of the Summit, which focussed on intra BRICS Trade, finance and industrial cooperation as well as cooperation in education, health, agriculture, energy and disaster management.

Later on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Modi chaired the BIMSTEC meeting, which was followed by the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach meeting. The seven-member BIMSTEC bloc consists of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.