BRICS vows to instil 'new life' in discussions on reform of UN Security Council

New Delhi, Sep 9 (PTI) Asserting that an effective and representative multilateralism is essential for building resilience against current and future global challenges, BRICS grouping on Thursday recommitted itself to instil "new life" in discussions on reform of UN Security Council and keep working to revitalise General Assembly.

In Delhi Declaration, opted after a summit between leers of member states of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, influential grouping pledged its resolve towards strengning and reforming multilateral system to make global governance more responsive and agile, effective, transparent, democratic, representative and accountable to member states.

member states also reiterated ir commitment to upholding international law, including purposes and principles enshrined in Charter of United Nations.

" pandemic has reinforced our belief that effective and representative multilateralism is essential for building resilience against current and future global challenges, promoting well-being of our people and building a sustainable future for planet," said declaration issued after deliberations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vlimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil's Jair Bolsanaro.

During discussions, re was a strong echo of need for reform of not just UN Security Council, but or institutions of global governance system as well, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs, said at an online briefing.

BRICS noted that despite many successes of UN system and its associated architecture, its continued relevance would be determined by its ability to apt to contemporary realities and respond to evolving and inter-connected challenges of our time.

leers endorsed BRICS joint statement on strengning and reforming multilateral system opted by member states’ foreign ministers.

y agreed that task of strengning and reforming multilateral system encompasses making instruments of global governance more inclusive, representative and participatory to facilitate greater and more meaningful participation of developing and least developed countries, especially Africa, in global decision-making processes and structures, and make it better attuned to contemporary realities.

y also called for inclusive consultation and collaboration for benefit of all, while respecting sovereign independence, equality, mutual legitimate interests and concerns to make multilateral organisations more responsive, effective, transparent and credible.

leers also stressed on importance of making multilateral organisations more democratic, objective, action-oriented and solution-oriented so as to promote cooperation in building international relations based on norms and principles of international law, and spirit of mutual respect, justice, equality, mutual beneficial cooperation and realities of contemporary world.

y highlighted importance of strengning capacities of individual states and international organisations to better respond to new and emerging, tritional and non-tritional challenges, including those emanating from terrorism, money laundering, cyber-realm, infodemics and fake news.

leers vowed to promote international and regional peace and security, social and economic development, and preserve nature’s balance with people-centered international cooperation at its core.

"We recommit to instil new life in discussions on reform of UN Security Council and continue work to revitalise General Assembly and strengn Economic and Social Council," BRICS said.

"We recall 2005 World Summit Outcome document and reaffirm need for a comprehensive reform of UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase representation of developing countries so that it can equately respond to global challenges,” it said.

China and Russia reiterate importance y attach to status and role of Brazil, India and South Africa in international affairs and supported ir aspiration to play a greater role in UN, declaration said.

“We appreciate role of South Africa and India during ir membership of UN Security Council for 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 respectively, and congratulate Brazil on its election as a member of UN Security Council in 2022-2023,” it said.

BRICS also reaffirmed its commitment to implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental.

Stressing importance of achieving 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and its Goals, member states reiterated ir commitment to achievement of all SDGs, including SDG-12 which identifies sustainable consumption and production patterns as a vital element of sustainable development.

leers also reaffirmed ir commitment to full implementation of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, and to principles of UNFCCC including ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ in light of different national circumstances.

BRICS nations appreciated New Development Bank’s substantive progress in membership expansion despite challenges emanating from COVID-19 pandemic.

"We reiterate that process of expansion should be grual and balanced in terms of geographic representation in its membership as well as supportive of NDB's goals of attaining highest possible credit rating and institutional development," BRICS said.

leers also asserted that macroeconomic stability of BRICS economies will play a major role in achieving global recovery and stability. PTI ASK ANB ANB