Leaders of BRICS, a forum of emerging economies led by China and Russia, spoke with one voice to oppose unilateral sanctions without international consensus and urged restraint in conflicts in the Middle East.
According to Reuters and other foreign media on the 12th local time, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a joint statement reflecting the will of participating countries, the "New Delhi Declaration," was adopted on the first day of the 18th BRICS summit at the Bharat Mandapam convention center in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi said the statement was finalized with the full consent of all participating countries and would serve as a milestone for BRICS solidarity and cooperation going forward.
In the joint statement, the leaders made clear their opposition to unilateral sanctions lacking an international legal basis and called for lowering military tensions in the Middle East. This is seen as an expression of concern directed at the United States, which has been at odds with Iran since late February.
The leaders also expressed deep concern over the global risk of nuclear confrontation and security instability. They emphasized securing stable resource supply chains and strengthening energy security, while warning that unilateral tariff barriers and non-tariff barriers that fall outside World Trade Organization (WTO) rules are distorting the trade ecosystem.
Earlier, at the summit's opening ceremony, Prime Minister Modi urged other member states to draw up an implementation plan with 10 proposals to reform the global cooperation framework by the next summit.
He said, "The current global cooperation framework is like a pyramid," adding, "Power and decision-making are concentrated at the top, and at the bottom are countries that are affected by such decisions but cannot influence them." He then raised his voice that a structural overhaul of the United Nations Security Council could no longer be delayed.
Russia President Vladimir Putin echoed the view, arguing that the Security Council's spectrum should be broadened with a focus on so-called Global South countries. Putin added that the share of participation from Asia, Africa and South America should be significantly increased to strengthen the U.N.'s practical functions.
At the opening event of the summit, core BRICS leaders, including China President Xi Jinping, President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, all gathered in one place. The three leaders were said to have strengthened their camaraderie, naturally exchanging greetings and engaging in informal conversations during the meeting.