The 12th heads of state summit of the five members of the BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—was held virtually yesterday, hosted by President Vladimir Putin, as Russia has held the rotating presidency of the group this year. Speeches and discussion during the summit focused on the importance of multilateralism, close cooperation in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine development, combatting cybercrime and terrorism, and above all, collaboration on necessary policies to bring about an economic recovery.
The heads of state and government heard reports from several speakers reporting on progress made in specific areas. The president of the BRICS New Development Bank Marcos Troyjo discussed the bank’s performance and plans for the coming year. The Moscow Declaration issued at the end of the summit discusses achievements and priorities to be addressed in the coming period.
Putin was emphatic on the need to coordinate “collective BRICS measures,” to combat the pandemic, to improve collaboration among epidemiological services and protect the lives of citizens. A BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center has been set up, he reported. Pointing to the economic decline triggered by the pandemic, he said that the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership, extending to 2025, will be key in assisting countries economically, as will the New Development Bank, which has reserved $10 billion to combat the pandemic. A regional branch of that bank will soon open in Moscow, “to implement lending programs across the Eurasian space,” he said. He also emphasized the challenge of the global and regional security environment, including drug trafficking and growing cybercrime. The several conflicts occurring in Southwest Asia are of special concern, he said. He affirmed that the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy was drafted for this summit, and that member countries are collaborating in this area.
Xi Jinping’s speech also focused on the need for multilateralism, justice, and equity that “can keep war and conflict at bay.” It is essential, he said, that the UN-centered international system and international order be safeguarded. Countries must rise above ideology and respect each other’s choices of social system, economic model, and development path. He outlined five areas, which aside from multilateralism, include enhancing solidarity and coordination, to meet the COVID-19 challenge; pursuing openness and innovation and promoting global economic recovery; prioritizing people’s livelihoods, promoting sustainable global development, and, coherent with past statements, green, low-carbon development. He warned against using the pandemic to promote “deglobalization” or “economic decoupling.” BRICS must actively pursue economic recovery, he said. “All of us are indeed passengers in the same boat. ... We must keep pace and work as a team to break the waves and navigate steadily toward a brighter future.”
The Moscow Declaration is here: https://eng.brics-russia2020.ru/images/114/81/1148126.pdf
Putin’s speech: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64430
Xi Jinping: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/17/c_139523124.htm
