The BRICS Leaders Address the Need for a New Security and Development Architecture

Here in their own words with no spin, is what the leaders of the 5 BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa had to say to plenary meeting of the BRICS summit. You will not find these anywhere else on this planet! So keep checking in with this site.

Aug. 23, 2023 (EIRNS)—The following are excerpts of the remarks made by each of the five BRICS leaders to the Aug. 23 plenary session of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. They are presented in the order they were delivered.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa:

Welcome to South Africa and to the 15th BRICS Summit…. BRICS stands for solidarity and for progress. BRICS stands for inclusivity and a more just, equitable world order…. We do so because we know that poverty, inequality and underdevelopment are the biggest challenges facing humankind….

Advancing the African agenda is a strategic priority for South Africa during its Chairship of BRICS….

As nations of the world confront the effects of climate change, we must ensure that the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient future is just, fair and takes into account differing national circumstances….

Peace and stability are preconditions for a better, more equitable world. We are deeply concerned about conflicts across the world that continue to cause great suffering and hardship. As South Africa, our position remains that diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter are necessary for the peaceful and just resolution of conflicts.

We are concerned that global financial and payments systems are increasingly being used as instruments of geopolitical contestation…. We will continue discussions on practical measures to facilitate trade and investment flows through the increased use of local currencies.

The world is changing….

While firmly committed to advance the interests of the Global South, BRICS stands ready to collaborate with all countries that aspire to create a more inclusive international order.

Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (by computer translation from Portuguese:

In just a few years, we have regressed from a situation of benign multipolarity to one that returns to the obsolete mentality of the Cold War and geopolitical competition. This is a folly that generates great uncertainty and erodes multilateralism. We are well aware of where this path could lead. The world needs to understand that the risks involved are unacceptable for humanity.

We cannot shy away from dealing with today’s main conflict, which is taking place in Ukraine and has global effects.

Brazil has a historic position of defending sovereignty, territorial integrity and all the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We find it positive that a growing number of countries, including the BRICS countries, are also engaged in direct contacts with Moscow and Kiev.

We do not underestimate the difficulties of achieving peace. Nor can we remain indifferent to the deaths and destruction that increase every day. We are ready to join an effort that can effectively contribute to a prompt ceasefire and a just and lasting peace….

The BRICS must act as a force for understanding and cooperation. Our willingness is expressed in the contributions of China, South Africa and my own country to the efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine….

It is unacceptable that global military spending in a single year exceeds $2 trillion, while the FAO tells us that 735 million people go hungry every day in the world.

The search for peace is a collective duty and an imperative for fair and sustainable development…. It is very difficult to combat climate change while so many developing countries are still dealing with hunger, poverty and other violence. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities remains relevant….

We need an international financial system that, instead of fueling inequalities, helps low- and middle-income countries implement structural changes….

External indebtedness restricts sustainable development. It is unacceptable that developing countries are penalized with interest rates up to eight times higher than those charged to rich countries. We need to increase liquidity, expand concessional financing and put an end to conditionalities….

Through the New Development Bank (NDB), we can offer our own financing alternatives, tailored to the needs of the Global South. I am sure that, under the leadership of my colleague Dilma Rousseff, the Bank will rise to these challenges. The creation of a currency for trade and investment transactions between BRICS members increases our payment options and reduces our vulnerabilities….

The interest of several countries in joining the [BRICS] grouping is recognition of its growing relevance. The G20 will also have a troika of BRICS members for the period 2023 to 2025. This is yet another opportunity to advance the Global South’s concerns about inequalities and sustainable development.

May the impetus that motivated the creation of BRICS 15 years ago continue to inspire us to build a multipolar, fair and inclusive order.

Russian President Vladimir Putin:

We are all united in our commitment to shaping a multipolar world order with genuine justice, based on international law and in keeping with the key principles set forth in the UN Charter, including sovereignty and respecting the right of every nation to follow its own development model. We oppose hegemonies of any kind and the exceptional status that some countries aspire to, as well as the new policy it entails, a policy of continued neo-colonialism.

Let me point out that it was the attempts by some countries to preserve their global hegemony that paved the way to the deep crisis in Ukraine. It started when an anti-constitutional government coup took place in this country with the help of the Western countries. This was followed by the unleashing of a war against people who refused to accept this coup. It was a cruel war, a war of extermination, which lasted for eight years….

We are grateful to our BRICS colleagues who are active in trying to end this situation and achieve a just settlement by peaceful means…

The partner countries are successfully implementing their Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025. In particular, they are strengthening five-sided cooperation in such areas as diversification of supply chains, de-dollarization and the transition to national currencies in mutual transactions, digital economy, support for small and medium-sized businesses, and fair technology transfer….

Of course, we welcome closer ties between the five BRICS countries in promoting innovation around the world. We expect cooperation as part of the BRICS initiative to establish an international infrastructure network with a dedicated fund, which could be used to support and develop it. Russia stands ready to share the experience it has and the best practices, including in digital transformation and using artificial intelligence….

Russia will assume the BRICS Chairmanship next year. Its motto will be ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Justice in Global Development and Security.’ We intend to hold about 200 events on political, economic and social matters in over ten Russian cities.

During its Chairmanship, Russia is committed to doing everything it takes to contribute effectively to carrying out the decisions adopted at this summit, including those related to adding new participants to this association….

We will facilitate the further comprehensive implementation of the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy until 2025 and the development of new long-term cooperation guidelines. As we see it, they should include efforts to enhance our states’ role in the international monetary and financial system, develop interbank cooperation, expand the use of national currencies, and promote collaboration between tax, customs, and anti-monopoly agencies.

Russian priorities undoubtedly include an intention to build up partnership in science and innovations, healthcare, education, and humanitarian ties as a whole. Cultural and civilizational diversity is one of the supporting pillars of the new multipolar world order and implies the creation of an integral and free space for cultural exchange, arts, and creativity.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (by computer translation from Hindi):

It is a matter of great pleasure for me and my delegation to be back in such a beautiful city like Johannesburg. This city has a deep connection with the people of India and the history of India. At some distance from here is the Tolstoy Farm, which was built by Mahatma Gandhi 110 years ago. By combining the great ideas of India, Eurasia and Africa, Mahatma Gandhi laid a strong foundation for our unity and mutual harmony….

I would like to share some suggestions with you to further broaden our close cooperation. The first is cooperation in the field of space. We are already working on the BRICS Satellite Constitution. Going a step further, we can consider forming the BRICS Space Exploration Consortium. Under this, we can work for global good in areas like space research, weather monitoring.

My second suggestion is cooperation in education, skill development and technology.

To make BRICS a future-ready organization, we have to make our societies future-ready . Technology will play an important role in this….

Diversity is a great strength of India. The solution to any problem in India comes from the test of this diversity. Therefore, these solutions can be easily implemented in any corner of the world. In this context, we would be happy to share all these platforms developed in India with BRICS partners.

My third suggestion is that we can together do skill mapping to identify each other’s strengths. Through this, we can complement each other in the development journey….

Under the chairmanship of South Africa, the countries of the Global South have been given a special importance in BRICS. We heartily welcome it. This is not only the expectation of the present time, but also the need. India has accorded the highest priority to this subject in its G-20 Presidency.

On the motto of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future,’ we are trying to move forward together with all the countries…. We have also proposed to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union….

India fully supports the expansion of BRICS membership. And welcome to move forward with consensus in this.

Chinese President Xi Jinping:

We gather at a time when the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. It is undergoing major shifts, division and regrouping, leading to more uncertain, unstable and unpredictable developments.

BRICS is an important force in shaping the international landscape. We choose our development paths independently, jointly defend our right to development, and march in tandem toward modernization. This represents the direction of the advancement of human society, and will profoundly impact the development process of the world….

We should deepen business and financial cooperation to boost economic growth. Development is an inalienable right of all countries, not a privilege reserved for a few…. We BRICS countries should be fellow companions on the journey of development and revitalization, and oppose decoupling and supply chains disruption as well as economic coercion. We should focus on practical cooperation, particularly in such fields as digital economy, green development, and supply chain, and bolster economic, trade and financial exchanges.

China will set up a China-BRICS Science and Innovation Incubation Park for the New Era to support the deployment of innovation results….

We should expand political and security cooperation to uphold peace and tranquility. As a Chinese saying suggests, “Nothing is more beneficial than stability, and nothing is more detrimental than turmoil.” The Cold War mentality is still haunting our world, and the geopolitical situation is getting tense. All nations long for a sound security environment. International security is indivisible. Attempts to seek absolute security at the expense of others will eventually backfire….

International rules must be written and upheld jointly by all countries based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, rather than dictated by those with the strongest muscles or the loudest voice. Ganging up to form exclusive groups and packaging their own rules as international norms are even more unacceptable….

We need to fully leverage the role of the New Development Bank, push forward reform of the international financial and monetary systems, and increase the representation and voice of developing countries.

I am glad to see the growing enthusiasm of developing countries about BRICS cooperation, and quite a number of them have applied to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. We need to act on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation to bring more countries into the BRICS family, so as to pool our wisdom and strength to make global governance more just and equitable….

The ancient African continent is a reservoir of simple yet profound wisdom. As an African proverb puts it, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The philosophy of Ubuntu, which believes that “I am because we are,” highlights the interdependence and interconnectedness of all peoples. Similarly, harmonious coexistence has been the aspiration of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. China is ready to work with BRICS partners to pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, enhance the strategic partnership, and deepen cooperation across the board. As fellow BRICS members, we should meet our common challenges with a shared sense of mission, shape a brighter future with a common purpose, and march together on the journey toward modernization.