16th BRICS Summit adopts Kazan Declaration

Kazan/New Delhi: The 16th BRICS Summit saw the leaders adopt the Kazan Declaration: ‘Strengthening Multilateralism For Just Global Development And Security’ on Wednesday.

The leaders reiterated the importance of further enhancing BRICS solidarity and cooperation based on their mutual interests and key priorities and further strengthening our strategic partnership.

They reaffirmed their 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.”

Under the head Need for reform of global institutions, it said:

The Bretton Woods international financial system’s institutions, including the World Trade Organization, need reform to better represent the interests of developing countries.

BRICS opposes unilateral, prohibitive, discriminatory, and protectionist measures taken under the pretext of fighting global climate change, including carbon emissions adjustment mechanisms and taxes.

BRICS supports comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, to make it more representative, and notes its centrality in the system of relations between nations.

Under New initiatives, it said:

BRICS members recognize the potential of information and communication technologies in bridging the digital divide between nations to aid socio-economic development.

BRICS intends to transform the New Development bank to serve the needs of the 21st century.

BRICS supports the creation of a New Technology Platform to strengthen development cooperation, including by creating high-tech products using domestic technological potential to fuel “sustainable and inclusive” growth.

The organization agrees to explore the creation of an independent cross-border settlement and depository infrastructure known as BRICS Clear.

BRICS is ready to strengthen cooperation to develop medicines, including vaccines and nuclear medicine projects.

BRICS welcomes the creation a united transport and logistics platform.

The declaration supports Russia’s proposal to create a Grain Exchange to “promote rules-based trade in agricultural products and fertilizers and minimize disruptions.”

Under Expanding cooperation:

The declaration welcomes the expanded use of national currencies for transactions between BRICS members and their trade partners.

The document highlights the importance of expanding cooperation based on common interests and further building up strategic partnerships among BRICS members, and continuing to implement the bloc’s Economic Partnership Strategy.

The bloc welcomes interest shown by countries of the Global South toward BRICS, and calls for greater participation of the least developed nations, especially in Africa, in global processes.

Under Opposing global crises:

The document “condemns” the illegal use of discriminatory and politically motivated sanctions and highlights their negative impact on the world economy.

BRICS is opposed to the deployment of weapons in outer space, and supports strengthening the global non-proliferation and disarmament regimes, and implementing a Security Council resolution on measures to prevent WMDs from falling into the hands of terrorists. It calls for strengthened ties between law enforcement to aid in the fight against narcotics.

Bloc members outlined their positions on the Ukrainian crisis, and took note of proposals for mediation to bring the conflict to a conclusion through negotiations.

BRICS expressed support for Palestine’s full-fledged membership in the UN.

The declaration condemns Israel’s attack on UN employees in Lebanon, and the pager terror attack of September 17.

BRICS welcomes the creation of a Haitian Transitional Presidential Council and electoral council to resolve the crisis plaguing the Caribbean nation.

BRICS expresses concern over the escalating violence and worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, and called for a ceasefire.

The declaration criticizes the politicization of human rights, and double standards in this area.

It also expressed opposition to all forms of discrimination in sports.