New Delhi: India fully supports the expansion of the five-nation grouping BRICS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at its ongoing 15th summit in Johannesburg Wednesday, adding that there should be a consensus on this.
Addressing the open plenary session of the summit, Modi said BRICS stood for “Breaking Barriers, Revitalising Economies, Inspiring Innovations, Creating Opportunities and Shaping the Future”.
“We all will work together to realise this new definition,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said the organisation had made big strides in the last 16 years. “In around two decades, BRICS has undertaken a long and magnificent journey. In this journey, we have achieved a lot,” Modi said.
He offered five suggestions to further strengthen the forum consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, who together represent 42 per cent of the world’s population and a significant 27 per cent of the global GDP.
Firstly, the Prime Minister suggested setting up a BRICS Space Exploration Consortium which would help BRICS nations conduct space research and monitor weather for the “global good”.
Secondly, he urged cooperation in education, skill development and technology. “We need to make our societies future-ready if we are to make BRICS future-ready,” Modi said.
He cited the example of the DIKSHA portal to spread education and said such a tool could be developed for BRICS nations. He also said an AI-based language platform in India was trying to remove language barriers, adding the Cowin portal had helped in the country’s vaccination programme.
“Diversity is our strength; our diversity has helped us cross adversities. These solutions can be implemented anywhere across the globe,” Modi said.
Modi also proposed setting up a tool among BRICS members to better map each other’s skills.
Modi highlighted that all BRICS nations were homes to big cats and suggested these countries come together to protect biodiversity.
He said BRICS nations can work together with International Big Cats Conservation to ensure these animals continue to remain protected in the wild.
Modi also urged BRICS members to come together and work in the field of traditional medicines, saying these countries could create a repository.
He highlighted that the betterment of the Global South was India’s aim, adding that this had found prominence under India’s G20 presidency.