New Delhi, May 14 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hosted top diplomats from the BRICS nations as New Delhi kicked off a high-stakes conclave of the foreign ministers of the influential bloc.

The visiting dignitaries, who made a joint call on the prime minister, included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iran's Abbas Araghchi, Brazil's Mauro Vieira, Indonesia's Sugiono, and South Africa's Ronald Lamola.

The India-hosted meet assumed greater significance as the influential bloc grapples with the economic consequences of the West Asia crisis, particularly the severe energy supply disruptions, and Washington's policy on trade and tariffs.

India, as the chair of the BRICS, is hosting the two-day conclave from Thursday ahea...