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BRICS Summit 2024: Leaders Call for Ending Wars, Strengthening Multilateralism

BRICS leaders have gathered in Kazan, Russia, for the bloc’s 16th summit from October 22-24, 2024. Leaders of 20 nations have attended the summit, in addition to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.

In their Kazan Declaration, issued on Wednesday, BRICS leaders called for ending wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening multilateralism and fostering inclusive and sustainable global growth.

BRICS Plus

Under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security,” leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa attended the summit, in addition to the newly-added members, the UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia.

Saudi Arabia participated at the BRICS Plus Summit 2024 as “a country invited to join the group.” The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, has led the Kingdom’s delegation to the summit on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

BRICS Summit 2024: Leaders Call for Ending Wars, Strengthening Multilateralism
Saudi Foreign Minister arriving in Kazan

The bloc announced the addition of 13 new nations as Partner Countries. These include Algeria, Türkiye, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Uganda, Thailand, Vietnam and Cuba.

Currently, the BRICS bloc accounts for 45% of the world’s population and 35% of the global economy.

Supporting Multilateralism

On Wednesday, BRICS Summit issued its final statement, known as Kazan Declaration. The statement addressed several key issues, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, economic cooperation, and global financial security.

The statement called for fostering multilateralism and enhancing cooperation and solidarity among the bloc’s members. “We reiterate the importance of further enhancing BRICS solidarity and cooperation based on our mutual interests and key priorities and further strengthening our strategic partnership,” it said.

BRICS Summit 2024: Leaders Call for Ending Wars, Strengthening Multilateralism

It highlighted the interest of Global South countries in joining the BRICS. “We endorse the Modalities of BRICS Partner Country Category,” the statement noted.

The BRICS leaders emphasized their “commitment to multilateralism and upholding the international law,” noting that the emergence of new centers of power, policy decision-making and economic growth “can pave the way for a more equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order.”

Ukraine War

On Ukraine, the statement said: “We emphasize that all states should act consistently with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelation.”

It added: “We note with appreciation relevant proposals of mediation and good offices, aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.”

Gaza War

BRICS leaders expressed their grave concern over the deteriorating situation and humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the light of “the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and in West Bank as a result of the Israeli military offensive.” They also expressed concern over the “mass killing and injury of civilians, forced displacement and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure.”

Hence, the statement stressed the “urgent need for an immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.” It also called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees from both sides and the unhindered sustainable and at scale supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and cessation of all aggressive actions.”

The leaders also welcomed the continuous efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and other regional and international efforts to “reach immediate ceasefire, accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid and Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”

Palestinian State

Furthermore, BRICS leaders reaffirmed their support for Palestine’s UN full membership, and the unwavering commitment to the two-state solution based on international law, including relevant UNSC and UNGA resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

This includes the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine in line with internationally recognized 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the statement said.

Lebanon Conflict

With regards to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, BRICS leaders expressed alarm. “We condemn the loss of civilian lives and the immense damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from attacks by Israel in residential areas in Lebanon and call for immediate cessation of military acts,” they said.

BRICS Summit 2024: Leaders Call for Ending Wars, Strengthening Multilateralism

They emphasized the need for preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moreover, they called for creating the conditions for “political and diplomatic solution in order to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East while underlining the importance of strict observance of UNSC resolutions 1701 (2006) and 2749 (2024).”

Financial Reform

The BRICS Summit statement stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation and reiterated the bloc’s commitment to intensifying efforts in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, poverty and hunger reduction, and sustainable development, including access to energy, water and food, fuel, fertilizers.

Areas of mutual interest also include mitigating and adapting to the impact of climate change, education, and health, including pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Moreover, BRICS leaders underscored “the need to reform the current international financial architecture to meet the global financial challenges” and make the international financial architecture more inclusive and just.

They also stressed the urgency for addressing the international debt “properly and in a holistic manner” to support economic recovery and sustainable development.

BRICS Financial Cooperation

BRICS leaders highlighted the role of the New Development Bank (NDB) in promoting infrastructure and sustainable development of its member countries, calling for its development.

They also welcomed “the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism (ICM) focus on facilitating and expanding innovative financial practices and approaches for projects and programs, including finding acceptable mechanisms of financing in local currencies.”

In addition, they reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing financial cooperation within the bloc. “We recognize the widespread benefits of faster, low cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments built upon the principle of minimizing trade barriers and non-discriminatory access,” they said.

They also encouraged the use of local currencies in trade. “We welcome the use of local currencies in financial transactions between BRICS countries and their trading partners.”

The leaders agreed to study “the feasibility of establishment of an independent cross-border settlement and depositary infrastructure, BRICS Clear, an initiative to complement the existing financial market infrastructure, as well as BRICS independent reinsurance capacity, including BRICS (Re)Insurance Company, with participation on a voluntary basis.”

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