PM Modi, other BRICS leaders back talks between Russia, Ukraine in virtual summit

“We support talks between Russia and Ukraine. We have also discussed our concerns over the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and expressed our support to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General, UN Agencies and ICRC to provide humanitarian assistance in accordance with the basic principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality established in UN General Assembly resolution 46/182," a statement from the summit said.

The leaders also pushed for strengthening and reforming the multilateral system.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi said: "Even though the scale of the epidemic has reduced globally than before, however many of its ill effects are still visible in the global economy."

"We, the BRICS member countries, have had a very similar view of the governance of the global economy. And so our mutual cooperation can make a useful contribution to post-Covid global recovery," he said.

Speaking about reforms undertaken by BRICS nations over the years, PM Modi said, "It is also a matter of happiness that the membership of our New Development Bank has also increased. There are many areas where the lives of our citizens are getting directly benefitted from our mutual cooperation."

The Beijing Declaration, adopted on Thursday following the virtual summit between the leaders of the five nations, PM Modi, and the Presidents of the other four nations – Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil’s Jair Bolsanaro -- also said that “China and Russia reiterated the importance they attach to the status and role of Brazil, India and South Africa in international affairs and supported their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN.”

On Afghanistan issue, the summit backed a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national unity and non-interference in its internal affairs.

It stressed the need “for all sides to encourage the Afghanistan authorities to achieve national reconciliation through dialogue and negotiation, and to establish a broad-based and inclusive and representative political structure.”

On terrorism, the leaders expressed strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and recognized the threat emanating from terrorism, extremism conducive to terrorism and radicalization.

The leaders committed themselves to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, and terrorism financing networks and safe-havens.

“We reiterate that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group…..We reject double standards in countering terrorism and extremism conducive to terrorism. "

On energy security, an important topic in view of the energy security issues in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, the statement said: “We emphasize the fundamental role of energy security in achieving sustainable development goals."

"While recognizing that the energy transition of each country is unique according to national circumstances, we underscore the prime importance of securing universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7,” the statement added.

[With UNI inputs]