Russia will be represented by the foreign minister at the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, he said President Vladimir Putin to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephone conversation they had today in which the two leaders also discussed bilateral relations.

The two leaders also discussed the planned expansion of the BRICS group of emerging economies — which includes India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa — as well as the G20 summit to be hosted by New Delhi next month.

Putin told Modi how will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovaccording to a statement issued by the Indian government.

“While expressing understanding for Russia’s decision, the Prime Minister thanked President Putin for Russia’s consistent support to all initiatives under India’s chairmanship of the G20,” the Indian government said.

“Current issues of Russian-Indian relations, which are progressively developing in the spirit of a highly privileged strategic partnership, were discussed (in the telephone conversation),” the Kremlin said in a statement.

“The positive dynamics of trade and economic cooperation have been confirmed,” he added.