New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) Copyright protection, cultural attribution and ethical use of artificial intelligence in the creative economy were among the agenda items on day one of the second Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting of BRICS hosted in Varanasi on Thursday, which was also attended by delegates from Iran and the UAE along with the member states.
The inaugural session was chaired by Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal.
“Delegates from Brazil, China, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates attended in person, while representatives from Ethiopia, Egypt and the Russian Federation joined virtually. Member states shared their priorities and perspectives on the agenda items,” India’s culture ministry said in a statement.
The second CWG meeting of BRICS, under the chairship of India, is taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia conflict, and the forum brought representatives of Iran and the UAE, among other member nations of the influential grouping, at one table.
The conflict in West Asia began on February 28 when the US-Israel combine launched military strikes on Iran, and Tehran retaliated by attacking Gulf states hosting US bases.
The second CWG meeting commenced today in Varanasi, with participation from BRICS member countries, the ministry said.
The first panel discussion, titled ‘Creative Economy and People-to-People Cooperation: Innovation, Partnerships and the Way Forward’, was moderated by Aggarwal.
The discussion focused on the role of the creative economy in promoting inclusive development, social cohesion, cultural exchange, market access and digital innovation.
The second panel discussion was titled, ‘Copyright and Ethical AI in the Creative Economy: Advancing Best Practices’. Discussions highlighted the importance of copyright protection, cultural attribution and ethical considerations surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in the creative sector, while also exploring opportunities for future collaboration among BRICS countries, it said.
The meeting will continue on June 5, with further deliberations on priority areas of cultural cooperation among BRICS member countries.
The third meeting of the CWG will take place in Bhopal from August 5-6, followed by a BRICS Cultural Festival on August 6-7 and the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting (CMM) on August 7 and 8, also in Bhopal, the Union culture secretary had told reporters in Delhi on June 1.
The BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting is a key platform for promoting mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and other collaborative initiatives in the culture sector among its members.
The first Culture Working Group meeting was held online on April 29 and 30.
Asked if India, as the current chair of the grouping, is expecting a joint communique or a chair summary after the CMM, given differences have emerged among some member states in meetings of other tracks of BRICS recently, Aggarwal on June 1 had told reporter, “We will do our best to arrive at a joint communique.” “We will strive to come to a common agenda and a common ground, to bring out a joint communique. But, it will depend on how we will proceed in the discussions, and how much consensus we can build among the members,” the culture secretary had said.
On Thursday, the proceedings on day one were followed by a cultural programme celebrating India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. It featured a musical ensemble presenting the distinctive musical traditions of different regions of the country, reflecting India’s cultural plurality and unity.
This was followed by ‘Colours of India’, a vibrant cultural presentation showcasing a range of classical and folk dance forms from across the country, offering delegates a glimpse into India’s rich artistic traditions and cultural diversity.
On Friday, after the discussions, the delegates will be taken to the ghats of Varanasi for watching ‘Ganga Aarti’, a senior official said.
The BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
The BRICS has emerged as an influential grouping as it brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of the global GDP and around 26 per cent of the global trade.
A forum of major emerging markets and developing countries of the world, it serves as a useful platform for consultation and cooperation on contemporary issues having global as well as regional significance, and issues of global political and economic governance. PTI KND AMJ AMJ
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