New Delhi: Member nations of the BRICS grouping issued a declaration saying that Afghanistan should not to be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists. “We strongly support a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasising respect for its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity,” the declaration said. The leaders also reiterated the importance of strengthening solidarity and cooperation between the countries, based on common interests, in a bid to boost their strategic partnership, according to the Beijing Declaration issued after the 14th BRICS Summit on Thursday.
“We reiterate the need for all countries to cooperate in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and agree to continue to treat all human rights, including right to development in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with same emphasis,” the declaration said.
On the situation in conflict-ridden Ukraine, the Beijing Declaration further said, “We’ve discussed the situation in Ukraine and recall our national positions as expressed at the appropriate fora, namely the UNSC and UNGA. We support talks between Russia and Ukraine.”
It added, “We’ve also discussed our concerns over the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and expressed our support to efforts of the UN Secy-Gen, UN Agencies & ICRC to provide humanitarian assistance in accordance with the basic principles of humanity, neutrality & impartiality established in UN General Assembly resolution 46/182.”
Notably, the 14th BRICS summit, chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is taking place in a virtual mode on June 23 and 24.
The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) brings together five of the largest developing countries, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended the annual summit after an invitation from the Chinese President, urged members nations to have a similar approach regarding the governance of the global economy. “Our mutual cooperation can make a useful contribution to the global post-covid recovery,” PM Modi said in his opening remarks.