World

At Brics Meet, Jaishankar Asks Grouping To Act As Symbol Of Change

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) grouping must act as a “symbol of change” at a time when the world community is grappling with the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, and stresses caused by conflict, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

Addressing a meeting of British foreign ministers at Cape Town in South Africa, Jaishankar urged the grouping’s members to make sincere efforts to push reforms of international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council and to combat all forms of terrorism, including its financing.

The meeting is expected to shape the agenda for the BRICS Summit to be hosted by South Africa in August, including issues such as the grouping’s expansion and a push for greater trade between the members in national currencies against the backdrop of Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

Jaishankar said the meeting is important in view of the challenging international situation, which demands that Brics members approach key contemporary issues constructively and collectively.

“We are a symbol of change and must act accordingly. This responsibility is even greater as we contemplate the devastating after-effects of the Covid pandemic, the stresses arising from conflict and the economic distress of the Global South,” he said without directly referencing the Ukraine crisis.

Brics, he said, must send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, is rebalancing and “that old ways cannot address new situations”. Contemporary challenges underline the “deep shortcomings of the current international architecture, which does not reflect today’s politics, economics, demographics or indeed aspirations”, he added.

In the face of disappointment over calls to reform multilateral institutions, Brics members should show sincerity in transforming global decision-making, including that of the UN Security Council, he said.

In an apparent reference to China, Jaishankar said: “At the heart of the problems we face is economic concentration that leaves too many nations at the mercy of too few. This may be in regard to production, resources, services or connectivity. Recent experiences impacting health, energy and food security only highlight this fragility.”

Bharat Express English

Recent Posts

‘In Kabul, A Cat Has More Freedom Than A Woman’: Revisiting Women’s Struggles Under The Taliban

The Taliban’s regime has since imposed over 100 laws restricting women's rights, stripping them of…

6 hours ago

PM Modi’s Gifts: A Glimpse Of India’s Cultural Heritage In Global Diplomacy

These gifts to world leaders reflect the diverse traditions, arts, and crafts of India, emphasizing…

9 hours ago

Dr Rajeshwar Singh Calls For Bold Goals To Make India A Global Power By 2047

Dr Singh stressed the importance of reaching a GDP of $15 trillion by 2047 to…

9 hours ago

Gautam Adani Faces Indictment In US: Legal Expert Vijay Aggarwal Dismisses Immediate Repercussions

Criminal lawyer Vijay Aggarwal weighed in on the charges against Adani. He believes the indictment…

10 hours ago

Adani Group Stocks Recover As Sensex nd Nifty Post Gains

After a major sell-off earlier in the week, Adani Group stocks, led by Ambuja Cements…

11 hours ago

Sensex Soars 1,961 Points, Nifty Gains 557 In Broad-Based Market Rally

A sharp rally in financial stocks and encouraging US labor market data fueled the uptrend.…

11 hours ago