Excellencies,
It is a great honour to participate in this BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, this meeting, in this charming city of Nizhny Novgorod. I express our sincere appreciation to the Excellency Foreign Minister for the warm hospitality extended to my delegation and me during this important Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod. We are indeed delighted to have the participation of the Foreign Ministers of new BRICS countries for the first time in this BRICS format.
We join others in expressing our deepest condolences to the people of Iran for the tragic loss of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Ali Khamenei, and other leaders.
Over the years, BRICS has grown stronger. Its sui generis working anchored in principles of consensus leads to fairness, solidarity, and sovereign equality of all its members. India has always worked for strengthening cooperation in BRICS through the institutionalization of its processes.
Excellencies,
One of the major outcomes of India's BRICS Chairship in 2021 was the BRICS joint statement on strengthening and reforming the multilateral system. In view of the increasing global challenges, BRICS engagement on reformed multilateralism should be amplified with enduring commitment from all its member countries.
Last year during India’s G20 Presidency, India held two Summits of the Voice of the Global South to lend focus on the issues of developing countries. It was only natural and logical that during India’s G20 Presidency, African Union (AU) became a permanent member of G20 with the support of all G20 member countries. With AU in, it makes G20 truly representative of the developing world and enrich discussions and deliberations on issues of global importance.
A true measure of BRICS supporting developing countries and their aspirations is by calling for equitable representation of developing countries in the Security Council, and doing so urgently. In this context, we urge that BRICS speak on action oriented UNSC reforms language in the ‘Summit of the Future’ outcome document later in September this year. We wish to reiterate that BRICS Leaders' Declaration of a generous burden last year on UNSC reforms should be further consolidated, not diluted, in the expanded BRICS family.
Excellencies,
We wholeheartedly welcome Foreign Minister Lavrov's proposal of initiating consultations within BRICS on UNSC reforms. It is a timely call and we look forward to Russia's leadership on these consultations.
Excellencies,
Counter-terrorism is a priority area for India and at the multilateral level. There is an urgency to cooperate more than ever on a common strategy in BRICS to counter various facets of terrorism, including the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorism.
India took various initiatives during the tenure in the UN Security Council in 2021-22 to build a common narrative and consensus around the issue of counter-terrorism. As the Chair of the UNSC's Counter-Terrorism Committee, we hosted a special meeting of the CTC in Mumbai and New Delhi in October 2022, when the Counter-Terrorism Committee unanimously adopted the Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. BRICS can play a role in building on the gains achieved so far and work towards evolving a concrete action plan based on the Delhi Declaration dated 29 October 2022.
Excellencies,
For many developing countries, climate change is looming large for their development and their daily existence. Despite this undesirable fact, developing countries are at the forefront of climate action. Even as all of us have to fulfil our responsibilities and commitments, developed countries should take the lead in the global fight against climate change. Climate justice demands that we give fair share to all developing countries in the global carbon budget. India welcomes the outcomes of the COP28 held under the presidency of the UAE, including the outcomes of the Global Stock Exchange.
Even though the world is not on track to meet the 2030 global goals of the Paris Agreement according to the Global Stocktake, the parties have been making good efforts collectively. We welcome the operationalization of the Loss and Damages Fund established at COP27 in Egypt to support developing countries impacted by climate change.
Excellencies,
India has pioneered some important global initiatives to fight climate change challenges through institutionalised frameworks in the form of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and its sister initiative Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS); Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT), Mission LiFE, Global Biofuel Alliance and Global Green Credit Initiative. We seek support and cooperation of all BRICS members to promote these initiatives for the global good.
Excellencies,
The urgency of reforming the international financial architecture has become more critical than ever before in view of the increasing debt vulnerability and severe shortages in financing developing countries. These limitations have severely undermined the capacities of the countries in the Global South to achieve SDGs.
In 2023, under India's G20 Presidency, concerted actions took place to strengthen Multilateral Development Banks and evolve their vision so that they are better equipped to maximise their impact.
Within BRICS we should collective explore avenues for project financing, assist project under public private partnership/trade settlement in local currencies. We extend our full support and cooperation to Central Bank of Russia for all the deliverables proposed under legacy issues of the BRICS central bank work stream in 2024, namely Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), Information Security, FinTech and Transition Finance.
India supports BRICS efforts to jointly develop the New Development Bank to a new type of multilateral development bank of the 21st century with a focus on economic growth through development.
Excellencies,
We see trade as a catalyst of development. As multilateral trade rules are critical for efficient and fair global trade, it is required that WTO is reformed forth right. India believes that a reformed WTO fully preserves its basic structure and foundational principles while improving all its functions.
Excellencies,
On the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, India encourages a negotiated settlement based on dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders will be key to bridging differences and developing innovative industries.
Excellencies,
Regarding the situation in Gaza, India stands for peace and stability in the region. It has been our long-standing position that we support a two-State solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine within recognized and mutually agreed borders living side by side with Israel in peace. It has been 8 months since the Israel-Hamas conflict and the humanitarian crisis it has triggered is deeply concerning.
Excellencies,
India has been actively contributing to peace and stability in Africa, including supporting through the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa. Our defence and security cooperation is growing with nations in Africa to counter terrorism and piracy to keep our seas secure. Through India's developing partnerships, we are supporting in a modest way the development aspirations of African countries as per their needs to soft-loan tariffs and capacity building initiatives. Further, India supports a stronger and intimate partnership between BRICS countries and African countries, as ensured during the South African Chairship of BRICS last year.
Excellencies,
India applauds the sincere and wholehearted efforts made by the Russian Chairship to ensure seamless integration of the new members into the BRICS family. The Russian Chair has also contributed in practical terms to the institutional development of BRICS by expanding the remains of cooperation with new areas such as Nuclear Medicine and Transport.
India offers its best wishes to Russia for its Chairship of BRICS and wishes all success of the Kazan Summit. India deeply commends Foreign Minister Lavrov for his matured and balanced leadership in guiding the BRICS family.
Thank you!