Modi to leave for BRICS summit July 13

New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for the BRICS summit meeting in Brazil July 13, making a transit stop in Germany.

It will Modi's first meeting as prime minister with top leaders of BRICS countries that also include Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa. It will also be his first participation in an international gathering as prime minister.

The sixth BRICS summit July 14-16 will take place in the Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Brasilia.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here that the prime minister will leave July 13 and have a halt in Germany.

However, he did not confirm if any meeting has been planned with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Modi will have bilateral meetings during his visit and also meet leaders of other South American countries along with other BRICS leaders. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has invited leaders of Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuala to meet the BRICS leaders.