The 16th BRICS Summit commenced this week in the Russian city of Kazan, bringing together dozens of nations seeking to form a power bloc against Western powers. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke Wednesday on the sidelines of the summit,

At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I want to thank President Putin for the successful organisation of the 16th BRICS Summit. I once again heartily welcome the new colleagues associated with BRICS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented himself as the leader of an international coalition of states at the BRICS summit in Kazan, a city of millions on the Volga River. In the official opening photo,