BRICS calls for global trade growth, stronger multilateralism
Johannesburg, July 26 : Member states of the BRICS economic bloc on Thursday called for sustainable growth of global trade and expressed determination to work together to strengthen multilateralism.
"BRICS economies continue to support global economic expansion and outlook," said the Johannesburg Declaration issued following the 10th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit here.
"We advocate continued use of fiscal, monetary and structural policies in concert, to forge strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth," it stated.
In what can be seen as a stinging indictment of US President Donald Trump's protectionism measures by getting into tariff wars with other countries, the BRICS nations expressed concern over some macro-economic policies "adopted by some advanced countries".
"We express concern at the spill-over effects of macro-economic policy measures in some major advanced economies that may cause economic and financial volatility in emerging economies and impact their growth prospects adversely.
"We call on major advanced and emerging market economies to continue policy dialogue and coordination in the context of the G20, FSB (Financial Stability Board) and other fora to address these potential risks," said the statement.
While China is locked in a trade war with the US, which accuses Beijing of dodgy business practices, New Delhi last month decided to hike tariffs on 30 US products in retaliation to Trump's decision to slap more taxes on Indian steel and aluminum.
The BRICS nations stressed "the importance of a favourable external environment for sustained growth of global trade".
According to the 23-page Johannesburg Declaration, the five member-states reinforced their commitment to upholding multilateralism and to working together on the implementation of the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals "as we foster a more representative, democratic, equitable, fair and just international political and economic order".
"We reiterate our determination to work together to strengthen multilateralism and the rule of law in international relations, and to promote a fair, just, equitable, democratic and representative international order," it said.
"We recommit our support for multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and uphold fair, just and equitable international order based on the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, respect for international law, promoting democracy and the rule of law in international relations, and to address common traditional and non-traditional security challenges," it stated.
In his interventions during the day's proceedings, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the challenges faced by multilaterilism and rules-based international order.
"The Prime Minister emphasised that the objective of preserving multilateralism and the multilateral world order is not to maintain the status quo.
"He reminded the leaders that BRICS came together 10 years ago for change and for reform of the world order," said T.S. Tirumurti, Secretary, Economic Relations, in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, at a media briefing.
"Therefore, he said, what we need today is reformed multilateralism, not going back to the status quo of multilateralism."
As in past summits, the BRICS also condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations "wherever committed and whosoever", called for concerted efforts to counter it under the UN auspices on a firm international legal basis and expressed conviction that a comprehensive approach is necessary to ensure an effective fight against it.
"We recall the responsibility of all States to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories," said the Declaration.
he BRICS nations also called for expeditious finalisation and adoption of the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) by the UN General Assembly.
According to Tirumurti, Modi also recalled the BRICS common understanding reached on countering terrorism adopted during the various past summits and referred to terrorism and extremism as the biggest threats.
Keeping with the event's theme of "BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution", the Declaration said that the Summit commended the establishment of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR).
In his address at the plenary session earlier in the day, Modi said that India wants to work with other BRICS nations to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
"The PartNIR aims at deepening BRICS cooperation in digitalisation, industrialisation, innovation, inclusiveness and investment, to maximise the opportunities and address the challenges arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution," the Declaration said.
The Summit also acknowledged the importance of infrastructure development and connectivity in Africa and recognised "the strides made by the African Union to identify and address the continent's infrastructure challenges" to support "industrial development, job creation, skills development, food and nutrition security and poverty eradication and sustainable development".
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Indian mobile hospital treats over 2,200 cyclone-hit people as New Delhi ramps up relief efforts in
Colombo (PTI): A mobile hospital set up by India in Sri Lanka has provided medical care to over 2,200 people affected by Cyclone Ditwah, as New Delhi ramped up its assistance to the flood-ravaged island nation with engineering support and delivery of fresh relief consignments, the Indian mission here said on Sunday.
Sri Lanka has been grappling with widespread flooding, landslides and severe infrastructure collapse triggered by the cyclone, leaving several districts isolated and severely straining the country's disaster-response capacity.
At least 627 people have been killed and 190 remain missing as of Sunday noon due to catastrophic floods and landslides caused by extreme weather conditions since November 16.
Sharing a social media post by the Ministry of External Affairs on its X handle, the Indian High Commission said a field hospital set up by India in Mahiyanganaya near Kandy has provided medical care to more than 2,200 people affected by the cyclone since December 5.
The hospital has also performed 67 minor procedures and three surgeries, it said. The field hospital was airlifted to Sri Lanka by an IAF C-17 aircraft along with a 78-member Indian medical team on Tuesday.
In another post, the mission said Indian Army engineers, working with Sri Lanka Army Engineers and the Road Development Authority, in Kilinochchi have begun removing a damaged bridge on the Paranthan–Karachchi–Mullaitivu (A35) road, a key route disrupted by the cyclone.
"This joint effort marks another step toward restoring vital connectivity for affected communities," it said.
India has additionally sent nearly 1,000 tonnes of food items and clothing contributed by the people of Tamil Nadu. Of these, about 300 tonnes reached Colombo on Sunday morning aboard three Indian Naval ships.
High Commissioner Santosh Jha handed over the supplies to Sri Lankan Minister for Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe.
India, on November 28, launched 'Operation Sagar Bandhu', a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiative, to aid Sri Lanka in its recovery from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Since the launch of the operation, India has provided about 58 tonnes of relief material, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential cloths, water purification kits and about 4.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment, the Indian mission said in a press release on Sunday.
Another 60 tonnes of equipment, including generators, inflatable rescue boats, Outboard Motors, and excavators, have also been brought to Sri Lanka, it said, adding that 185 tonnes of Bailey Bridge units were airlifted to restore critical connectivity along with 44 engineers.
Two columns of the National Disaster Response Force, comprising 80 experts and K9 units with specially trained dogs, assisted with immediate rescue and relief efforts in Sri Lanka.
Besides the field hospital in Mahiyanganaya, medical centres have also been set up in the badly hit Ja-Ela region and in Negombo. INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, and INS Sukanya provided immediate rescue and relief assistance to Sri Lanka.
Apart from the two Chetak helicopters deployed from INS Vikrant, two heavy-lift, MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force are actively involved in evacuations and airlifting relief material, the release said.
At the request of the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre, a virtual meeting was organised between DMC and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s National Remote Sensing Centre on Saturday.
Since the onset of the disaster, ISRO has been providing maps to assist DMC in its rescue efforts, the release said.
