Brasília: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to bilateral cooperation and multilateralism in the face of rising global trade tensions. The discussion primarily focused on enhancing economic ties and addressing shared concerns on the global stage.According to Namibia Press Agency, the two leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Brazilian Presidency released a statement highlighting their shared goal of increasing bilateral trade to over 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. Additionally, they agreed to broaden the scope of the agreement between Mercosur and India, signaling a strengthened economic partnership.In a post on his official X account, Modi characterized the conversation as "good." He emphasized their commitment to deepening the strategic partnership in areas such as trade, energy, technology, defense, and health. Modi noted that a robust, people-centric partnership between Global South nations is advantageous for all parties involved.Lula confirmed his plans for a state visit to India in early 2026. In preparation for this visit, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will travel to India in October. He will be accompanied by ministers and business leaders to participate in the trade monitoring mechanism meeting, reflecting the importance of this bilateral relationship.The conversation also included discussions on collaboration within the BRICS group. Lula and Modi reviewed the outcomes of the recent BRICS Summit held in Brazil and talked about coordination efforts for India's upcoming presidency of the bloc. This dialogue underscores the significance of BRICS as a platform for political and economic cooperation.The dialogue between the two leaders took place shortly after the United States announced significant tariff increases on goods from both Brazil and India, adding urgency to their discussions on enhancing bilateral and multilat eral cooperation.