The BRICS Summit in Kazan marked a significant milestone on Thursday with the adoption of the Kazan Declaration, a comprehensive document that reflects the collective vision and goals of the BRICS nations.
The BRICS nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the declaration has been approved by all member nations and will be distributed to the United Nations as a key expression of global multipolarity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who participated in the closed plenary session of the summit, emphasised a people-centric approach to solving global challenges.
His speech called for reformed multilateralism, underscoring the need for diplomacy and dialogue to maintain global peace and stability.
“BRICS represents a key expression of global multipolarity,” tweeted MEA’s spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, praising the group’s commitment to shaping a balanced and inclusive global order.
What does the Kazan declaration say?
“1. We, the Leaders of BRICS countries, met in Kazan, Russian Federation, from 22 to 24 October 2024 for the XVI BRICS Summit held under the theme: ”Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”.
“2. We reiterate the importance of further enhancing BRICS solidarity and cooperation based on our mutual interests and key priorities and further strengthening our strategic partnership.
“3. We reaffirm our commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration and consensus.
“As we build upon 16 years of BRICS Summits, we further commit ourselves to strengthening cooperation in the expanded BRICS under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, cultural and people-to-people cooperation, and to enhancing our strategic partnership for the benefit of our people through the promotion of peace, a more representative, fairer international order, a reinvigorated and reformed multilateral system, sustainable development and inclusive growth.
“4. We commend the Russian BRICS Chairship for hosting an “outreach”/”BRICS Plus” Dialogue with the participation of EMDCs from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East under the motto: “BRICS and Global South: Building a Better World Together” in Kazan on 24 October 2024.
“5. We welcome the considerable interest by countries of the Global South in BRICS and we endorse the Modalities of BRICS Partner Country Category,” the declaration reads.
“We strongly believe that extending the BRICS partnership with EMDCs will further contribute to strengthening the spirit of solidarity and true international cooperation for the benefit of all.
“We commit to further promoting BRICS institutional development,” the declaration further reads.
Meanwhile, a major diplomatic development took place on the sidelines of the summit as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting in over four and a half years.
The long-anticipated meeting between the leaders of the two Asian giants could signal a thaw in India-China relations, which have been strained by border tensions in recent years.
The Kazan Declaration, now set to be presented to the UN, is expected to bolster the BRICS nations’ collective efforts in addressing global issues, from economic development to security, while reflecting the group’s growing influence on the world stage.
