Kazan | India supports dialogue and diplomacy and not war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS Summit here on Wednesday, in an unambiguous message calling for resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through peaceful negotiations.
In his address, Modi flagged concerns over pressing challenges such as wars, economic uncertainty, climate change and terrorism and said the BRICS can play a positive role to take the world in the right path.
"We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war. And just as we were able to overcome a challenge like COVID together, we are certainly able to create new opportunities to ensure a secure, strong and prosperous future for future generations," he said.
The summit was attended by top leaders of BRICS nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
The prime minister also batted for concerted global efforts to deal with terrorism and that there must not be any "double standards" in fighting the menace.
"In order to counter terrorism and terror financing, we need the single-minded, firm support of all. There is no place for double standards on this serious matter.
"We need to take active steps to stop the radicalisation of youth in our countries. We must work together on the long pending matter in the UN of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism," he said.
"The same way, we need to work on global regulations for cyber security and for safe and secure AI," he added.
Modi said India is ready to welcome new countries into BRICS as partner countries.
"In this regard, all decisions should be taken by consensus, and the views of BRICS founding members should be respected," he said.
"The guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures adopted during the Johannesburg summit, should be complied with by all members and partner countries," Modi noted.
The prime minister also pitched for reform of the UN Security Council and other global bodies.
"We must move forward in a time-bound manner on reforms in global institutions such as the UN Security Council, Multilateral development banks, and the WTO," he said.
"As we take our efforts forward in BRICS, we must be careful to ensure that this organisation does not acquire the image of one that is trying to replace global institutions, instead of being perceived as one that wishes to reform them," he said.
Modi also argued that the hopes, aspirations and expectations of the countries of the Global South must also be kept in mind.
"The BRICS grouping, created by the confluence of different viewpoints and ideologies, is a source of inspiration for the world, fostering positive cooperation," he said.
"Our diversity, respect for each other and our tradition of moving forward on the basis of consensus are the basis for our cooperation," he added
At BRICS Summit, PM Modi calls for single-minded focus to combat terrorism . Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly pitched for "single-minded" focus and "firm support" of all in combating terrorism, asserting that there is no place for "double standards" to deal with the challenge.
In an address at the 16th BRICS Summit here, Modi also underlined the need to take "active steps" to stop the radicalisation of youths.
The prime minister made the remarks in the presence of top leaders of BRICS nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian.
"In order to counter terrorism and terror financing, we need the single-minded, firm support of all," Modi said.
"There is no place for double standards on this serious matter. We need to take active steps to stop the radicalization of youth in our countries," he added.
Modi's remarks that there is no place for "double standards" in combating terrorism assumed significance as China had blocked several proposals at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based terrorists.
"We must work together on the long pending matter in the UN of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism," Modi said.
"The same way, we need to work on global regulations for cyber security and for safe and secure AI," he said.
In his remarks, Modi also delved into the expansion of the BRICS.
"India is ready to welcome new countries into BRICS as partner countries.
"In this regard, all decisions should be taken by consensus, and the views of BRICS founding members should be respected.
Modi said the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures adopted during last year's Johannesburg summit, should be complied with by all members and partner countries.
The prime minister said that the BRICS is an organisation that is willing to evolve with time.
"By giving our own example to the world we must collectively and in a united manner, raise our voice for reforms of global institutions," he said.
"We must move forward in a time-bound manner on reforms in global institutions such as the UN Security Council, Multilateral development banks, and the WTO," he said.
"As we take our efforts forward in BRICS, we must be careful to ensure that this organisation does not acquire the image of one that is trying to replace global institutions, instead of being perceived as one that wishes to reform them," he said.