BRICS Summit Day 2-Resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability: PM Modi during open session
PM Modi on Day 2 of the BRICS Summit highlighted resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. He said,”Through ‘BRICS Connect,’ we have promoted skills, employability, women’s participation in the workforce, social security, and capacity building. An initiative for a BRICS MSME cooperation portal has been launched to link small enterprises with knowledge, finance, and new markets. A BRICS Urban Mobility Hub has been established to facilitate the sharing of best practices among our cities…”
Highlighting the increasing geopolitical tensions due to the middle East war he urged the BRICS nations to unite and address these challenges. He further flagged serious concerns over the “weaponisation of technology and critical minerals”, saying it could hinder shared progress and prosperity.
Following the address, the world leaders came together for a BRICS family photo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in centre, was flanked by Russia, China and other world leaders on Day 2 of the summit as cameras went about their business.
“Under India’s presidency, we have focused our efforts on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. I am pleased that, with your cooperation and support, we have been able to transform our shared vision into a win-win situation,” the prime minister said.
Also shedding light on the impact of the war in the lives of common man, Modi said,” The world is witnessing increasing tensions and they having a significant negative impact on the lives of ordinary people. Pandemics, climate disasters, and supply chain disruptions have demonstrated that in today’s interconnected world, no crisis remainsconfined to a single region.”
Earlier on Saturday, members of the 11 nation group including China, Russia, Iran and India called for peace in the Middle East. The foreign ministers had failed to agree on a joint statement when they had met earlier in May with divided opinions on Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE which were at war. However, an intensive discussion finally lead to a statement as the bloc seeks to bolster its global influence and address conflict, trade turbulence and energy security.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia,” the joint statement said, adding the countries “call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation”.
Modi is scheduled to meet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo and Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima as a part of the bilateral meetings scheduled for day 2.