Brics Summit

RSTV Big Picture: BRICS SUMMIT

• Context: The 11th BRICS Summit was held in Brasília, Brazil. • The 2019 Brasilia Presidency focuses on the theme, ‘BRICS: Economic Growth for an Innovative Future’. • The BRICS countries, Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa, convene for a BRICS Leaders’ Summit annually. • Discussions focus on spheres of political and socioeconomic coordination, in which member countries have identified business opportunities, economic complementarities and areas of cooperation. • The new areas of BRICS cooperation spearheaded by Brazil, are: ➢ strengthening of cooperation on science, technology and innovation; ➢ enhancement of cooperation on digital economy; ➢ invigoration of cooperation on the fight against transnational crime, especially against organized crime, money laundering and drug trafficking; and ➢ encouragement to the rapprochement between the New Development Bank (NDB) and the BRICS Business Council. • History of BRICS: ➢ It was the Russian side that initiated the creation of BRICS. ➢ On 20 September 2006, the first BRICS Ministerial Meeting was held at the proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the margins of a UN General Assembly Session in New York. Foreign ministers of Russia, Brazil and China and the Indian Defence Minister took part in the meeting. ➢ They expressed their interest in expanding multilateral cooperation. ➢ On 16 May 2008, Yekaterinburg hosted Meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the initiative of Russia. After the meeting, a Joint Communique was issued, reflecting common stances on topical global development issues. ➢ On the Russian initiative on 16 June 2009, Yekaterinburg hosted the first BRIC Summit. BRIC Leaders issued a joint statement after the Summit. ➢ The document set forth the goals of BRIC “to promote dialogue and cooperation among our countries in an incremental, proactive, pragmatic, open and transparent way. The dialogue and cooperation of the BRIC countries is conducive not only to serving common interests of emerging market economies and developing countries, but also to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.” ➢ In 2013, BRICS accounted for about 27 percent of the global GDP (in terms of the purchasing power parity of their national currencies). ➢ The total BRICS population is 2.88 billion (42 percent of the entire global population), and the five countries cover 26 percent of the planet’s land. ➢ BRICS countries are influential members of leading international organisations and agencies, including the UN, the G20, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77. They are also members of various regional associations. • BRASÍLIA DECLARATION highlights: ➢ Leaders reaffirmed fundamental commitment to the principle of sovereignty, mutual respect and equality and to the shared goal of building a peaceful, stable and prosperous world. ➢ They welcomed the establishment of the Innovation BRICS Network (iBRICS); the adoption of the New Architecture on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the holding of the BRICS Strategies for Countering Terrorism Seminar, the Workshop on Human Milk Banks and the BRICS Meeting on Asset Recovery. ➢ The leaders remain committed to multilateralism, cooperation of sovereign States to maintain peace and security, advance sustainable development and ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and build a brighter shared future for the international community. ➢ They reiterated the urgent need to strengthen and reform the multilateral system, including the UN, the WTO, the IMF and other international organizations, and will continue working to make more inclusive, democratic and representative, including through greater participation of emerging markets and developing countries in international decision-making. ➢ They expressed commitment to sustainable development in a balanced and integrated manner and reiterated the importance of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called for redoubled efforts for its timely implementation. They reiterated commitment to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, replenishment of the Green Climate Fund. ➢ Member countries are committed to contributing to and supporting the development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and to the successful outcome of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Kunming, China, in 2020. ➢ Members expressed serious concern over persistent threats to international peace and security and committed to work for lasting peace for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all applicable international obligations. ➢ They emphasized the importance of:

▪ the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction ▪ preservation of the Chemical Weapons Convention ▪ peaceful uses of outer space in accordance with international law ▪ an open, secure, peaceful, stable, accessible and non-discriminatory environment for information and communications technologies (ICTs). ▪ Prevention of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. ➢ They reaffirmed commitment to combating illicit financial flows and to closely cooperating within the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the FATF-style regional bodies. ➢ Members recall the importance of open markets, fair, just and non-discriminatory business and trade environments, structural reforms, effective and fair competition, promoting investment and innovation, as well as financing for infrastructure and development. ➢ Members agreed to explore in appropriate fora ways to promote and facilitate investments in productive sectors, ecommerce, MSMEs, infrastructure and connectivity, which will help to promote economic growth, trade and job creation. Further, they noted with appreciation the role of the New Development Bank (NDB) in infrastructure and sustainable development financing. ➢ They noted the progress achieved in establishing a BRICS Local Currency Bond Fund and look forward to its operation. ➢ Members acknowledged the importance of the BRICS Survey on International Payments System, assessed the progress achieved under the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership, welcomed the establishment of the BRICS Women Business Alliance. ➢ They reaffirmed commitment to collective efforts for peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and recognize the role of the UN Security Council as bearing the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. ➢ Regarding the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, they reaffirmed strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the country. ➢ Members reaffirmed concern about the ongoing conflict and the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Republic of Yemen and call on the parties to facilitate the rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian personnel and supplies across the country. ➢ Further, the conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa should not be used as pretext to delay resolution of the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Members reiterated that the two-state solution will enable Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, in peace and security. ➢ They expressed serious concern about the ongoing crisis in the Gulf region, including one-sided actions and reaffirmed support for the resolution of the existing disagreements through negotiations and diplomatic engagement. ➢ Members reiterated continuous support to the people of Afghanistan in their effort to build a stable, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous country and to a process of peace and reconciliation that is Afghan owned and Afghan-led. Similarly, for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation in the Korean Peninsula, as well as for its complete denuclearization. ➢ Countries recognize the New Industrial Revolution (NIR) as a critical development opportunity from which all countries must benefit equally, while acknowledging the challenges it brings and noted the progress in the implementation of the Johannesburg Summit decision to commence the full operationalization of Part NIR. ➢ They took note of the progress made on the negotiation of the Agreement on Cooperation on BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation and look forward to its early conclusion. ➢ They acknowledged the crucial role of energy in promoting social and economic development, as well as environmental protection. ➢ They noted the progress achieved by the BRICS Customs Administrations regarding the draft BRICS Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement and acknowledged the continued support provided by the BRICS Revenue Authorities towards the implementation of the global standards on transparency and exchange of information and the minimum standards against Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). ➢ Member countries reaffirmed commitment to fight corruption, inter alia, through the strengthening of domestic legal frameworks, as appropriate, to more effectively address cases of corruption. ➢ They acknowledged the role of cultural cooperation in enhancing understanding between peoples and reaffirmed the importance of BRICS people-to-people exchanges in enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among our peoples and express satisfaction at the holding of several meetings and activities in the fields of culture, governance, arts, sports, media, films, youth, and academic exchange. ➢ Russia, India, China and South Africa commend Brazil´s BRICS Chairship in 2019 and express their gratitude to the government and people of Brazil for hosting the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasília. Brazil, India, China and South Africa extend full support to Russia for its BRICS Chairmanship in 2020 and the hosting of the 12th BRICS Summit in Saint Petersburg. ➢ © APTI PLUS ACADEMY FOR CIVIL SERVICES

• Brics challenges: ➢ Some years since their headline-grabbing formation, Brics’ profile has lowered. ➢ Brazil’s promise to become an international economic powerhouse has not materialised. The same is true of South Africa, which joined the group in 2011. ➢ The relationship between India and China has soured, and Russia has become the target of various sanctions. ➢ Coordination has always been a challenge for Brics. Historically, blocs comprised of different countries have been constructed through geographical proximity, by winners of a war or by hegemonic powers. Not Brics.

SOURCES:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/five-in-one-on-brics-summit/article29986257.ece/amp/ 2. http://infobrics.org/post/29770 3. https://sdg.iisd.org/events/11th-brics-summit/ 4. http://infobrics.org/post/29823/ 5. http://infobrics.org/post/29779 6. http://infobrics.org/post/29780/ 7. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2OL5KQg7g