BRICS Summit on Nov 17 to approve counter-terrorism strategy

The upcoming BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit on November 17 is likely to approve the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy allowing working out common measures and closely coordinating in the UN and other international fora to fight the scourge, Mr Roman Babushkin, Deputy Chief of the Russian embassy, here said on Thursday.

Promoting implementation of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism (CCIT), Economic Partnership Strategy till 2025, practical launch of the Energy Research Cooperation Platform and Women Business Alliance, establishment of the BRICS International Competition Policy Center and expansion of partnership in areas like inter-parliamentary dimension are likely to be discussed at the Summit.

The Summit with the motto “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth” reflects a comprehensive and long-term commitment to supplementing response of the international community to current challenges and to increase potential of cooperation for the well-being of the peoples of the five member States.

He said the SCO Summit held on November 10 and the upcoming BRICS Summit have one thing in common–all member-States are committed to predictability in international relations based on multi-polarity, central role of the UN and its Charter as well as international law.

Mr Babushkin who was addressing a press conference through video conferencing, said that amid global uncertainty, both associations remain extremely relevant when it comes to a collective response to contemporary challenges, especially COVID-19.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said the SCO Foreign and Defence policy activities significantly intensified with the main focus on the Eurasian space, including joint exercises aimed against terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges.

Expressing concern at the the situation in Afghanistan, Mt Babushkin said Russia’s efforts were designed to help the war-ravaged country become stable and peaceful as well as support national reconciliation, including at the platform of Moscow consultations and the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group.

Economic and humanitarian agenda of the SCO becomes especially important amid current recession, he said and added that It was implemented in the framework of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme, Business Council, Interbank Consortium, Youth Council, the Forum of the Regions.

He welcomed the Indian initiative to launch an Innovations and Startups Working Group.

About the traditional BRICS coordination on G20 agenda, he said the grouping is promoting dialogue on the issues of pandemic, support of a new and equal financial architecture and reform of the global governance as well as multilateral trading system with the central role of the WTO.

As far as COVID-19 is concerned, cooperation on that fits well in the established BRICS healthcare agenda. He called for an increased relevant scientific and practical data exchange to support developing a comprehensive global approach to prevent the situations detrimental to the public health.

‘’In this regard, we are considering creation of BRICS Integrated Early Warning System to prevent infectious diseases risks. We maintain close interaction with the WHO. Welcome the progress achieved by the BRICS TB Research Network and encourage an early setup of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center.

In the financial area, he said the New Development Bank (NDB) portfolio had crossed 20 bn US Dollar investments for more than 60 infrastructure projects. The Bank had also decided to provide 10 bn US Dollars to support member-States in their fight against the pandemic.

The process of expansion of the NDB stakeholders was getting impetus which would help it get more potential. Currently the Bank has AA+ long-term credit rating by Fitch and S&P as well AAA by Japan Credit Rating.

He said focus would remain on new financial initiatives including promotion of BRICS Data Room for infrastructure projects, an integrated payment system BRICS Pay and expanding use of national currencies.