Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, attended the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting held virtually on Tuesday, where he expressed China's readiness to support India's presidency of the grouping. The meeting, chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, focused on strengthening multilateral cooperation and addressing global challenges.
Highlights of the Meeting
During the meeting, the Chinese envoy reiterated Beijing's commitment to working closely with New Delhi for the success of BRICS under India's leadership. He emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among member nations to tackle issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, and climate change.
India's Role as Chair
India assumed the presidency of BRICS in 2021, with the theme 'BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus.' The meeting saw participation from foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, who discussed ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, including health, trade, and security.
The Chinese ambassador's remarks come amid ongoing tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Despite the border standoff, both nations have maintained diplomatic engagement, with the BRICS platform serving as a venue for constructive dialogue.
Jaishankar highlighted the need for reformed multilateralism and a rules-based international order, while also calling for greater cooperation among BRICS nations to address the impacts of the pandemic. The ministers agreed to work towards a more inclusive and equitable global governance system.
The meeting concluded with a joint statement reaffirming the commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter. The next BRICS summit is scheduled to be held later this year under India's chairmanship.
