The 13th BRICS summit, involving Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, condemned the violence in Afghanistan and hoped the country would not become a safe haven for terror groups and, instead, the stakeholders would strive for peace.
The meeting is being hosted by India this year, but that’s mostly symbolic given the COVID restrictions and the event had gone virtual.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his co-leaders, President Putin, President Xi Jinping, President Ramaphosa, and President Bolsonaro, via video conference.
India’s chosen theme for this summit was ‘Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and, consensus.’
The Prime Minister said that the BRICS nations have achieved very well in the last 15 years, including a development bank and an energy research cooperation platform. However, the satisfaction of achieving must not deter the member nations from being even more goal-oriented for the next 15 years, said Mr. Modi.
So far this year, 150 BRICS-related meetings have been held, and amongst them, 20 were held at the ministerial level, said the Prime Minister. He added that the member nations will meet at the ministerial level again to discuss water later this November.
BRICS Summit 2021 has adopted a counter-terrorism action plan, announced the PM.
The agreement on Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation between the space agencies signifies that a new chapter of cooperation has begun, said Mr. Modi. Also, the cooperation between the customs departments of member nations will see intra-BRICS trade become easier, he said
The PM said that an idea to start a virtual BRICS Vaccination Research and Development Centre has gained consensus.
Speaking of COVID, the Prime Minister hoped for a credible and sustainable global recovery.
Russian President Putin, too, had stressed the need for intra-Afghan dialogue, hoping for an end to the regional conflicts that are seen flaring up in many places. He cautioned that the virus situation is still dangerous and must be handled collectively and decisively.
Only a day ago, Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, had visited India.
