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

The 16th BRICS Summit is taking place from October 22 to 24, 2024, in Kazan, Russia. It is a further major expansion of the BRICS group as four new members have been added: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. The event was presided over by Russian President Vladimir Putin and was particularly devoted to further strengthening cooperation among member nations.

Key Information on the Summit

• Theme: The Summit is themed "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security," to strengthen political, economic, and cultural cooperation among the member states.
• Agenda: Key issues on the agenda are alternative standards for interstate foreign trade, coordination of financial cooperation programs - for example, BRICS Pay - and global security.
• Bilateral Meetings The PM Modi would engage the leaders in bilateral meetings, including that with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to discuss bilateral relations and collaborative efforts within BRICS.

PM Modi's Welcome

The cultural reception viewed at Kazan, during his visit, was grand with performances:

Reception of Culture: On arrival, Kazan received cultural receptions in the form of diaspora with traditional dances and songs, dhol, bhajans, and even garba by Russian artists dressed in Indian attire.

Interaction with Diaspora: Then he also reached out to the Indian community, thanked them for their appreciation, and went on to emphasize how Indian culture is recognized worldwide.

This summit also serves as a platform from which critical issues of the world can be discussed and, besides that, strengthens the cultural bonds between India and Russia, through which it brings forward the importance of diplomacy through cultural exchange.

Chak-Chak

Chak-chak is a dish consisting of fried dough pieces made from wheat, usually given the shape of little balls or cubes. They are further coated with honey sugar syrup that acts like glue, thus sticking together all pieces into one kind of mound. Chak-chak is officially considered the national sweet of Tatarstan and belongs to its deep traditions

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

Korovai

Korovai is a sweet bread that comes in a round shape. It is decorated with floral patterns and bakes on multiple doughs interwoven into one another, which symbolizes unity as well as good fortune.

Cultural importance: This loaf of bread is displayed in a marriage ceremony or during significant occasions signifying bonding between hosts and guests. Its shape relates to sun worship similar to the old Slavic tradition.

On his visit, Modi thanked the welcoming reception based on the cultural exchange between India and Russia. The food prepared for him was not only a representation of Tatar's culinary culture but also food as a diplomatic tool.

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