In News:

• The 14th BRICS Summit was hosted by China in virtual format.
• Discussions during the 14th BRICS Summit covered intra-BRICS cooperation in areas such as:
  • Counter-terrorism, trade, health, traditional medicine, environment, S&T and innovation, agriculture, technical and vocational education & training, and MSMEs.

What’s in Today’s Article:

• XIV BRICS Summit Beijing Declaration

XIV BRICS Summit Beijing Declaration

• Theme of BRICS Summit
  • "Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development”
• Strengthening and Reforming Global Governance
  • High-level Dialogue on Global Development was held at this Summit.
    • This is a testimony to the open and inclusive nature of BRICS Partnership including BRICS Outreach/BRICS Plus cooperation.
  • It reiterated its commitment to multilateralism through upholding international law.
  • The participating leaders supported the BRICS Joint Statement on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System.
    • It was adopted by the BRICS Foreign Ministers in 2021.
  • The joint statement highlighted the principles such as:
    • Making instruments of global governance more inclusive, representative and participatory
    • Being based on inclusive consultation and collaboration for the benefit of all
    • Making multilateral organizations more responsive.
  • With respect to WTO, the declaration stressed the fact that Appellate Body crisis should be resolved without further delay and should not be linked with other issues.
    • It endorsed BRICS Statement on Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System and Reforming the WTO.
• Commitment to maintaining a strong and effective Global Financial Safety Net
• The members reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a strong and effective Global Financial Safety Net with a quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at its center.
• Working in Solidarity to Combat COVID-19
  • It supported the leading role of the WHO in combating the pandemic, as well as acknowledged initiatives such as the COVAX and the ACT-A.
    • COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
    • The ACT Accelerator (ACT- A) is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
    • COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside key delivery partner UNICEF.
    • WHO has multiple roles within COVAX:
      • It provides normative guidance on vaccine policy, regulation, safety, R&D, allocation, and country readiness and delivery.
    • It welcomed the convening of the BRICS High-Level Forum on Traditional Medicine.
    • The declaration welcomed the virtual launch of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center.
    • It commended the "Initiative on Strengthening Vaccine Cooperation and Jointly Building a Defensive Line against Pandemic”.
    • It emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for preventing mass infectious diseases risks.
• Safeguarding Peace and Security
  • It welcomed the BRICS Joint Statement on "Strengthen BRICS Solidarity and Cooperation, Respond to New Features and Challenges in International Situation”.
    • It was adopted by BRICS Foreign Ministers in May 2022.
  • It supported 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 encouraged the Afghanistan authorities to achieve national reconciliation, and to establish a broad-based, inclusive and representative political structure.
    • It emphasized that the Afghan territory not to be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists.
• On Ukraine
• The declaration expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and supported talks between Russia and Ukraine.
• Promoting Economic Recovery
  • It emphasized the importance of continued implementation of the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025 in all relevant ministerial tracks and working groups.
  • The declaration took note of China’s hosting the "Buy BRICS" online promotion event. It further endorsed:
    • the BRICS Digital Economy Partnership Framework,
    • BRICS Initiative on Trade and Investment for Sustainable Development and
    • BRICS Initiative on Enhancing Cooperation on Supply Chains.
  • It welcomed the establishment of the Digital Economy Working Group by upgrading the E-commerce Working Group.
  • It agreed to promote consumer protection in e-commerce by advancing the implementation of BRICS Framework for Consumer Protection in E-commerce.
• New Development Bank (NDB)
  • The declaration congratulated NDB on its relocation to its permanent headquarters building in Shanghai as well as the opening of NDB’s regional office in India.
  • It supported the NDB’s goals of attaining the highest possible credit rating and institutional development.
• BRICS Think Tank Network for Finance
  • It welcomed the decision to establish the BRICS Think Tank Network for Finance.
    • The network will provide intellectual support for knowledge sharing, exchange of experiences and practices and cooperation on finance issues amongst BRICS countries.
• Energy security
• It emphasized the fundamental role of energy security in achieving sustainable development goals.
• In this regard, it welcomed the BRICS Energy Report 2022, and commended the holding of the BRICS Youth Energy Summit and other related activities.
• Expediting Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  • It took note with concern that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reversed years of progress.
  • It reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in all its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental - in a balanced and integrated manner.
  • The members opposed green trade barriers and reiterate their commitment to enhancing coordination on these issues.
  • As BRICS countries produce around 1/3 of the world’s food, the members stressed their commitment to furthering agricultural cooperation.
    • In this regard, it reiterated the importance of implementing the Action Plan 2021-2024 for Agricultural Cooperation of BRICS Countries.
    • It also welcomed the Strategy on Food Security Cooperation of the BRICS Countries.
  • It commended the proposal to organize the BRICS High-level Forum on Sustainable Development.
• Technological cooperation
  • It took note of the BRICS Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development and support information exchanges and technical cooperation on AI technology.
  • It urged the members to conduct comparative study towards developing a common governance approach to guide BRICS members on Ethical and responsible use of AI while facilitating the development of AI.
  • It welcomed the establishment of the BRICS Joint Committee on Space Cooperation.
    • This was in line with the Agreement on Cooperation on BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation. and
    • Recently, the first joint committee meeting took place.
• Deepening People-to-People Exchanges
  • It appreciated the signing of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Agreement between the Governments of the BRICS States on cooperation in the Field of Culture (2022-2026).
  • It encouraged the BRICS countries to promote the development of digitalization in the field of culture.
  • It appreciated the fact that the launch of the BRICS Skills Competition will strengthen exchanges and cooperation among the nations.
  • It vowed to strengthen the cooperation within BRICS Network University and BRICS University League.