PM Modi hopes of productive meetings at BRICS, SCO Summits

"It is very special to be in Russia, a Nation whose remarkable friendship with India has always been known," PM Modi said.

"I am hopeful of productive meetings and interactions at the BRICS and SCO Summits, forums we attach immense importance to," the Prime Minister said.

On the sidelines of the summits, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on  July 10.

BRICS, an association of five member countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will launch its new development bank with a $100 billion contingency reserve.

Besides PM Modi and  Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and South African President Jacob Zuma are attending the five-nation BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit.

PM Modi is likely to discuss with President Xi issues like the proposed $46 billion economic corridor that would pass through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and also over China's support to Pakistan over the release of Mumbai attacks mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

India considers both the issues crucial for its security.

At the summit of SCO, a security bloc led by China and Russia, India and Pakistan are expected to be accorded full membership of the six-nation grouping that currently also includes former Soviet republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

India has so far only had the status of Observer in the grouping, which focuses on  boosting connectivity, counter-terrorism cooperation, strengthening cooperation in the energy sector, enhancing trade and dealing with drug trafficking.

PM Modi is on a eight-day visit of Central Asian countries. He has visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and will visit Kyrgystan and Tajikistan after the two summits in Russia.