New Delhi, 09 September: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), an organization of five largest countries of the world, has achieved many achievements during the 15 years of its establishment and efforts should be made to make this organization more fruitful in the period of next fifteen years.
Prime Minister Modi on Thursday chaired the 13th summit of BRICS, an organization of India, Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, via video conferencing.
Hosted by India, the summit was attended by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In his opening address, Modi said BRICS can take pride in its achievements during the last 15 years, but we need not be complacent about it. BRICS will have to strive to become more meaningful in the next 15 years. He said that BRICS is a powerful forum for emerging economies and an influential voice of developing countries.
During India’s presidency, the Prime Minister mentioned the theme of BRICS, ‘Sustainability, Co-operation and Mutual Cooperation for Unanimity in 15 Years of BRICS’. He said that BRICS will continue to work on these four principles.
Modi said that during India’s presidency, the BRICS organization initiated many initiatives and programs for the first time. Despite the Corona epidemic, there were about 150 events and meetings. Of these, 20 meetings were ministerial.
Referring to the activities of BRICS under India’s chairmanship, Modi said that during this period the BRICS countries have accepted an “anti-terror action plan”. The first “BRICS Digital Health Conference” was organized. This is a unique step to increase health facilities with the help of technology. This is also the first time that BRICS has taken a common stand on “strengthening and reforming the multilateral system”.
In this context, he further said that in November our Water Resources Minister will meet for the first time in BRICS format. Along with this, the establishment of vaccination research center, eco-friendly tourism alliance, customs cooperation and space cooperation related to remote sensing etc. were also mentioned.
Modi said that these steps of BRICS will benefit the citizens and will make this organization relevant and more useful.
After his address, the Prime Minister invited leaders of other member countries for the opening address. After this open program of BRICS, all the leaders also posed for a digital group photo.
Steps to withdraw US forces irresponsible: Putin
President Vladimir Putin made a special mention of developments in Afghanistan in his address. He called the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan irresponsible and said that the people of Afghanistan are suffering from this. At the same time, it has created new threats at the regional and global level.
He said that the neighbouring countries and the world will now have to face the problem of terrorism, drug trafficking and migration of people and refugees from Afghanistan.
Taking a jibe at the US and Western countries, Putin said that the bad situation created by his decisions in Afghanistan is a big problem for the whole world. He said that the developments in Afghanistan have once again shown how harmful it is to impose any political system, ideology and values ​​on any one country from outside.
He further said that every country has its own definite politico-social system and system of thought. No system can be imposed on him from outside. Western countries tried to impose democratic system and their own ideology on Afghanistan, the result of which is in front of everyone.
Mutual trust, equality, justice and open cooperation should increase mutual cooperation: Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of mutual trust, equality, justice and working openly, while stressing on enhancing cooperation among BRICS countries. He stressed the need for mutual cooperation to take forward the development journey of various countries. Xi Jinping said that on the basis of mutual trust, BRICS countries can further strengthen their cooperation.
President Xi said that China would assume the presidency of BRICS next year and host the 14th summit.
Vaccine made accessible, exempted from patent: Cyril Ramaphosa
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed on making the corona vaccine universally accessible, saying that South Africa and India have taken the initiative to exempt vaccines and related medical systems from the patent system in the World Trade Organization.
Gratitude to China and India for their help during the Corona epidemic: Jair Bolsonaro
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro thanked China for its cooperation in combating the Corona epidemic, mentioning its country’s strategic ties with BRICS member countries. Also, referring to his visit to India in 2020, he said that this gave a further boost to bilateral relations.
All these world leaders praised Prime Minister Modi for organizing the summit. It is noteworthy that India had outlined four priority areas for its presidency.
These include reforming the multilateral system, countering terrorism, using digital and technological tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. Prime Minister Modi is chairing the BRICS summit for the second time. Earlier, he had presided over the BRICS summit held in Goa in 2016. This year coincides with the fifteenth anniversary of the Indian presidency of BRICS
