16th BRICS Summit: Expansion, Global Cooperation, and Tatar Cuisine Diplomacy

The 16th BRICS leaders’ meeting will be held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. This is a further major expansion of the BRICS grouping, adding four new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The event, chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was specifically dedicated to further strengthening cooperation among member states.

Main information of the summit

  • Theme: With the theme of “Strengthening Multilateralism to Promote Global Development and Security”, the summit will strengthen political, economic and cultural cooperation among member states.
  • Agenda: Key issues on the agenda are alternative standards for foreign trade between countries, coordination of financial cooperation projects (such as BRICS payments), and global security.
  • Bilateral meetings Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral meetings with leaders, including with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to discuss bilateral relations and intra-BRICS cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi’s welcome

During his visit, a cultural reception was held in Kazan with great splendor and performances:

Cultural reception: Upon arrival in Kazan, Russian artists dressed in Indian costumes hosted expats with traditional dances and songs, dhol, bhajans and even garba.

Interacting with the Diaspora: He then also reached out to the Indian community to thank them for their appreciation and went on to highlight how Indian culture is being recognized around the world.

The summit also provided a platform to discuss major world issues, besides strengthening cultural ties between India and Russia, highlighting the importance of diplomacy through cultural exchanges.

Chuck Chuck

Chak-chak is a dish consisting of fried dough made from wheat, usually in the shape of small balls or cubes. They are also coated with honey syrup, which acts like glue, thereby holding all the pieces together to form a kind of mound. Chak-chak is officially considered the national sweet of the Republic of Tatarstan and belongs to its deep tradition

Cultural significance: Chak-chak represents hospitality; it is often prepared for celebrations and gatherings.

Korovai

Korovai is a round sweet bread. It is decorated with floral patterns and baked from multiple intertwined doughs, symbolizing unity and good fortune.

Cultural Importance: A loaf of bread is displayed at weddings or important occasions to symbolize the bond between host and guests. Its shape is associated with sun worship similar to ancient Slavic traditions.

During the visit, Modi expressed his gratitude for the warm reception based on cultural exchanges between India and Russia. The food prepared for him is not only representative of Tatar food culture, but also serves as a diplomatic tool.

The BRICS Kazan Summit not only expanded its membership but also demonstrated the potential of cultural diplomacy in strengthening international relations. As global challenges evolve, the summit underscores the importance of multilateral efforts in addressing economic, political and security issues on the global stage.