Support dialogue and diplomacy, not war: PM Modi at BRICS Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making his opening remarks at the BRICS meet, reiterated that India supports “dialogue and diplomacy, and not war”. PM Modi went on to define, what he termed were “expectations” from the member countries of BRICS.
PM Modi was speaking at the ‘closed session’ of the BRICS plenary at Kazan in Russia on Wednesday.
The Ministry of External Affairs shared the details.
PM Modi said the world is surrounded by challenges like wars, conflicts, economic uncertainty, climate change and terrorism. There are talks of north-south and east-west divides in the world, he added.
Inflation control and security of food, energy, health and water are priority issues for all countries, PM Modi said.
He laid down expectations from the BRICS, saying in the age of technology, new challenges like cyber security, deep fake and disinformation have emerged. “BRICS can play a positive role on all issues,” Modi said.
“We should send a message to the world that BRICS is not a divisive group but a public interest group”, he added.
Though Modi did not name the ongoing conflicts like Russia-Ukraine or the one in West Asia, he said, “we support dialogue and diplomacy, not war”.
The BRICS, he said, was fully capable of creating new opportunities for a safe, strong and prosperous future for the coming generation.
PM Modi asked the BRICS to cooperate strongly and unanimously deal with terrorism and terror financing.
“There is no place for double standards on such a serious subject,” he said in an obvious, yet unstated, reference to China overlooking the terrorism originating from Pakistan. China is a member of BRICS.
Referring to the pending issue of having a ‘comprehensive convention’ on international terrorism in the UN, PM Modi asked the BRICS countries, “We have to work together on this”.
Similar regulations are needed for global regulations for cyber security, safe and secure AI.
India, the prime minister said, was ready to welcome new countries as “BRICS partner countries”. All decisions in this regard should be taken unanimously and the views of the founding members of BRICS should be respected, he said in what was an unspoken reference to several pending requests from countries to join the grouping.
BRICS needs to raise a unanimous voice seeking reforms in global institutions, Modi said adding, “We should move forward in a timely manner for reforms in global institutions like UN Security Council, Multilateral Development Banks and WTO”.
The BRICS, he said, should keep in mind that its image should be for seeking a reform in global institutions and not ‘to replace them’.
PM Modi said the diversity of BRICS group is inspiring the world to move in the direction of positive cooperation.
“Our diversity, respect for each other, and the tradition of moving forward by consensus are the basis of our cooperation. This quality of ours and the ‘BRICS spirit’ is also attracting other countries towards this forum”, he added.
