Rio de Janeiro, July 7 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as a full member of BRICS, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday (local time), during a special media briefing on PM Modi's visit to Brazil for the 17th BRICS Summit.

MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi said that Brazilian President Lula da Silva attached great importance to Prime Minister Modi's participation in the summit.

"Today was a full-day program. There were three sessions with a working lunch and Honourable Prime Minister also had a few bilaterals and also pull-asides during the day. It was a packed session. Honourable Prime Minister thanked President Lula for warm hospitality extended to him and his d...