BRICS Summit Adopts Kazan Declaration

The recent 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia and concluded with the signing of the Kazan Declaration which outlines the general and specific objectives of the BRICS Partners. The summit, held under the slogan Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security, united leaders of nations to share opinions about essential global challenges and mutual commitment to multilateralism and collaboration.

Recommendations of the Kazan Declaration

1. Multilateralism and International Law: In making the declaration, specific goals included support of multilateralism and commitment to maintaining the provisions of the United Nations Charter. All the BRICS nations vowed to support a rules based multilateral system that seeks to consolidate peace, security and sustainable development.
2. Global Governance Reforms: For the BRICS countries, there has been an appeal for an adjustment of the staid international institutions so that they might be more malleable, efficient, and inclusive. They also said more needed to be done to enhance the participation of EMDCs in the making of decisions affecting the world. The declaration specifically underscored democratization of a global governance architecture.
3. Peace and Security: It provided worry on the increase in violence and on-going armed conflict across the world. These were the principles that it advocated for; the use of diplomacy, dialogue, and consultation in managing or seeking solutions to conflict. All the BRICS nations expressed strong political rhetoric and stressed the importance of the coordinated response to the threats posed by terrorism.
4. Economic Cooperation: The BRICS countries freedom re-emphasised their members’ intention to improve the economic integration and trade. To increase economic relations and minimize reliance on main world currencies they promoted the usage of regional money in barter. It also approved and welcomed the setting up of a BRICS Working Group on Nuclear Medicine and birth of the BRICS Health Journal.
5. Humanitarian Concerns: They condemned a humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the tensions growing violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in southern Lebanon. It demanded that war in Gaza should cease immediately for ever; hostages as well as detainees must be released; and people in distress must be allowed to receive supplies of food and medicine without obstruction.
6. Cyber-security: The BRICS countries became aware of the increasing risks of cyber threats, underlined the importance of increasing cooperation to counter cyber threats and protect key infrastructure. They also urged the creation of general norms and standards on how to deal with the increasing problem on cyber security.
7. BRICS Plus: The declaration emphasized further diversification of the BRICS cooperation with EMDCs from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Middle East. The strive of the countries under the umbrella of BRICS Plus is to enhance solidarity and cooperation to foster the good of developing nations.
8. Environmental Sustainability: The groups of countries also expressed their continuous support towards combating climate change and for sustainable development. They urged countries to team up in implementation of the sustainable development goals and fight climate change impact.

BRICS

It will be imperative to note that the BRICS forms a global political and economic power house. The acronym BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa with the goal of which as an international organization is to facilitate cooperation and communication between key developing power economies and solve common problems as well as contribute to sustainable development. India occupies a critical position in BRICS, as a member that actively participates in the Group’s programme and goals. That is why it if is necessary to turn to the history of the formation of BRICS, its objectives, and India’s role in this strategic partnership.

Formation and its Objectives

Origin and Evolution: The term BRICS was first used in 2001 when an economist, Jim O’neill, came up with a term “BRIC” to refer to the four rapidly developing countries of Brazil, Russia, India as well as China. These countries collectively formed in year 2009 through the first BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia. After the South Africa Joined it in the year 2010 the BRIC became the BRICS.

Objectives: BRICS is a mechanism to increase cooperation between the countries because its main objectives are to maintain peace and security and support development. The key objectives include:

• Economic Growth: Promoting economic integration and growth as a way forward in the economic enrichment of the member countries.
• Multilateralism: Sustainable development of the multipolar world and the development of climate multilateralism.
• Sustainable Development: Including responding to global issues which are climate change, poverty, and the resultant social injustice, among others.
• Financial Stability: Improving the status of its members’ financial status by creating institutions such as the NDB, the CRA.

India's Role in BRICS

India has identified itself with BRICS because of its principles of multilateralism, economic cooperation and international relationship. India has multiple domains of engagement with BRICS and these include: Economic cooperation, technology, security, environment and sustainable development.

Economic Contributions: As one of the fastest-growing major economies of the world, India has a critical role for economic integration within the BRICS. Key contributions include:

• Trade and Investment: India also participates in trade and investment promotion measures so as to strengthen the bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation with other BRICS partner countries. The closure of this point has been an important aspect in the framework of India’s work in the context of BRICS, where simplification of trade relations and liberalization of investment flows have been an essential focus.
• New Development Bank (NDB): India is a founding member of the NDB which was created as a source of financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other countries of the Group. India’s membership in NDB confirms its commitment to the financial stability and development.

Technological and Digital Initiatives: India has a strong presence in IT and Digital space, which has substantially helped to advance the cooperation between BRICS countries in related sphere.

• BRICS Network University: India patronises the BRICS Network University, an education cooperation venture meant to enhance and promote study and research within member countries of the BRICS group.
• BRICS Institute of Future Network: India is participating in such forums as the BRICS Institute of Future Network, which is aimed to work on the improvement of the countries’ digital networks and cyber-security as well as develop its technologies.

Security and Counterterrorism: Security and Counter terrorism is another BRICS frontier in which India participates to ensure world peace.

• Counterterrorism Cooperation: India wants BRICS to push for counter-terrorism cooperation, saying that it is imperative for the group to act together in preventing terrorism and its funding. India has taken leadership roles in counterterrorism cooperation in terms of intelligence exchange and exercises to strengthen counterterrorism capacity of BRICS.
• Cyber-security: Due to its accumulated knowledge regarding the threat or cyber-attack and improved cyber defence on the internet, India has jointly worked together with other BRICS countries. This ranges from frameworks for cyber-security collaboration and exchange of information.

Sustainable Development and Climate Action: The aggressive approach towards sustainable development and climate change is reflected in India’s compliance within the initiatives of BRICS.

• Climate Change Mitigation: Since its entry into BRICS, India has aggressively engaged in its Campaign for Climate Change, affirmatively urging for cooperation. India’s efforts like ISA are in consonant with BRICS aim and objectives of developing renewable energy and cutting down carbon footprint.
• Poverty Alleviation and Health: India playing its part in BRICS and attempting to combat poverty, inequality, and diseases in the countries. Intensive partnership endeavours in medical sector, school and social facility, or building a new quality of rural existence underline India’s intentions of amelioration of the living standard of all citizens.

The Collaborative Initiatives and Achievements

Because of India’s active participation in the BRICS grouping there has been several cooperation ventures and outcomes that presented the BRICS agenda and more so India’s contributions.

• BRICS Summits: India has twice been given the opportunity to host BRICS Summits with the intention of holding dialogues relating to the member nations. These summits have articulated important shared statements that define greater common purposes and frameworks to which the BRICS must aspire.
• BRICS Business Council: This external opportunity involves India as a crucial participant in the BRICS Business Council, which main function is to create a business to business platform for cooperation. The basic activities of this council are designed to improve the trade, investment, and the overall business within the BRICS.
• Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges: Cultural relations and people contact within BRICS is vigorously encouraged by India. Events like BRICS Film Festival and BRICS Youth Summit help to promote culture relationships between the member nations.

India has a very active and decisive participation in the BRICS as a strategic leader and financial contributor in the pursuit of the bloc’s goals and programs. It is evident that the Indian participation is active across most fields of international cooperation, such as economic growth and technological development, security and cooperation, sustainable development and others. With the development of the BRICS cooperation, India will always play a critical role in defining the cooperation’s agenda and tackling the problems confronting the world. The activities of BRICS and its member nations show that only when they escalate their cooperation do the emerging nations of the world have a chance at successfully challenging the current unjust world order.

Kazan

• Historical Significance: Kazan was founded in 1005 though the city became incorporated into the Russian empire only in 1552 under Ivan the Terrible.
• Cultural Hub: It is called the ‘Athens of the Volga’ and has more than 30 universities, the Kazan Federal University among them as well as many museums and galleries.
• Bilingual City: both Tatar and Russian languages has official status, which presents the ethnical and linguistic diversity of the city.
• Kazan Kremlin: One of the best-preserved structures in the city and it is enlisted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Qolsharif Mosque: A mosque, which is one of the largest in Europe, it has been renovated and rebuilt with addition to the works completed in 2005.
• Sports Capital: Hosted events during the 2018 FIFA World Cup and is renowned for its sports infrastructure.
• Volga River: Sitting right on the banks of Europe’s longest river.
• Economic Center: A large center of industries like oil refining and of the High-technology industries.