ANDALIB AKHTER
Expressing concern over the latest developments in Afghanistan, the BRICS nations on Thursday ( September 11)stated said that Afghan territory should not be used to carry out attacks against other countries.
“Afghan territory should not be used to carry out attacks against other countries as well as for drug trade. We emphasise the need to address the humanitarian situation and to uphold human rights, including those of minorities,” a BRICS declaration said.
The declaration comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 13th BRICS summit via video conferencing along with Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The summit, which was hosted by India, was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil’s Jair Bolsanaro.
The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 percent of the global trade.
In his opening remarks, Modi said India has received full cooperation from all BRICS partners during its chairmanship and listed various achievements of the grouping.
“Today we are an influential voice for the emerging economies of the world. This platform has also been useful for focusing attention on the priorities of developing nations as well,” he said.
The BRICS has created strong institutions like the New Development Bank, the Contingency Reserve Arrangement and the Energy Research Cooperation Platform, he noted. “These are all very strong institutions,” he added.
“However, it is also important that we do not become too self-satisfied and we must ensure that BRICS is even more result-oriented in the next 15 years,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the grouping has achieved several “firsts” and referred to the holding of the first-ever BRICS digital summit recently.
“This is an innovative step to increase health access with the help of technology. In November, our Water Resources Ministers will be meeting for the first time under the BRICS format. It is also the first time that BRICS has taken a collective position on “Strengthening and Reforming Multilateral Systems”,” Modi said.
“We have also adopted the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan,” he said. The Prime Minister said with cooperation between the customs departments, intra- BRICS trade will become easier.
“There has also been a consensus with regards to starting a virtual BRICS vaccination research and development centre. BRICS Alliance on green tourism is also another new initiative,” he said.
Earlier Prime Minister Modi said that BRICS nations have made many achievements and it is an influential voice for the emerging economies of the world. Mr Modi said, the platform has also been useful for focusing on the priorities of developing countries.
He said, BRICS has started several strong organizations such as the New Development Bank, Contingency Reserve Arrangement and Energy Research Cooperation Platform. Mr Modi said, it must be ensured that BRICS is more productive in the next 15 years. He said, the theme that India has chosen for its leadership is – ‘BRICS at 15 – Intra-BRICS Cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus.
Mr Modi said, the four Cs will be pillars of the BRICS partnership. The Prime Minister said, recently, the 1st BRICS digital health conference was organized and it was an innovative step to improve health access with help of technology.
He said, in November, the Water Resources Ministers of the five members countries will meet for the first time in the BRICS format. Mr Modi said, the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan was adopted recently and the Space Agencies of member countries are also working together in remote sensing satellite constellations.
He said, Intra-BRICS trade will get easier with better cooperation between the customs departments of member nations. Thanking all the members, Mr Modi said, India has received full cooperation from all members during its chairmanship of BRICS.
The meeting is being attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro. BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world – representing 41 percent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.
This is the second time Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the BRICS summit. He had chaired the Goa summit in 2016. The Indian Chairship of BRICS this year coincides with the 15th anniversary of BRICS. The summit focussed extensively on the situation in Afghanistan.