4th BRICS Summit
चौथी ब्रिक्स शिखर बैठक
February 14, 2012चौथी ब्रिक्स शिखर बैठक
New Delhi successfully hosted the Fourth BRICS Summit on March 29, 2012. The broad theme of the summit was 'BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity'. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh hosted President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, President Dimitry Medvedev of Russia, President Hu Jintao of China and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa at the Summit. The BRICS Delhi Declaration capturing the essence of Leaders' deliberations and articulating BRICS shared positions on contemporary issues of mutual interest was issued at the end of the summit.
Background brief on BRICS The BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) idea was first conceived in 2001 by Goldman Sachs as part of an economic modeling exercise to forecast global economic trends over the next half century; the acronym BRIC was first used in 2001 by Goldman Sachs in their Global Economics Paper No. 66, "The World Needs Better Economic BRICs".
Expansion of BRIC into BRICS
2. BRIC Foreign Ministers at their meeting in New York on 21st September 2010 agreed that South Africa may be invited to join BRIC. Accordingly, China, as the host of 3rd BRICS Summit, invited South African President to attend the Summit in Sanya on 14 April 2011 with the concurrence of other BRIC Leaders.
BRIC(S) Summits
The First Summit – Yekaterinburg, Russia (June 2009)
3. The Leaders reviewed the state of global economic and financial crisis and had consultations on the issues on G-8 and G-20 Agenda. The Leaders stressed the need to intensify cooperation in the BRIC format on economic matters, to seek speedy implementation of G-20 decisions of interest to developing countries, and reform of global governance and the international financial system. The Summit adopted Joint Statement of BRIC Leaders and a Joint Statement on Global Food Security.
The Second BRIC Summit – Brasilia, April 2010
4. The Leaders reiterated the need for closer cooperation, reform of international financial institutions and protecting the interests of the developing countries.
5. A Joint Statement was issued after the Summit. A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed among BRIC Development Banks. A BRIC Statistical publication was also released.
4. The Leaders reiterated the need for closer cooperation, reform of international financial institutions and protecting the interests of the developing countries.
5. A Joint Statement was issued after the Summit. A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed among BRIC Development Banks. A BRIC Statistical publication was also released.
7. BRICS Leaders held a consultation meeting on 3rd November 2011 in Cannes, France, before the G-20 Summit. The Leaders exchanged views on BRICS cooperation and the Cannes G20 Summit.
Other BRICS Meetings Foreign Ministers8. Foreign Ministers of BRICS have been meeting regularly in New York on the sidelines of UNGA since their first meeting in September 2006. The last meeting was hosted by India in New York on 23 September 2011.
9. A standalone meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16 May 2009. A Joint Communiqué was issued at the Meeting.
Finance/Economic Ministers 10. The first meeting of BRICS Economic/Finance Ministers was held in November 2008 in Sao Paolo, Brazil for consultations in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis. BRICS Economic/Finance Ministers have been meeting regularly on the sidelines of G20 meetings and IMF/WB annual meetings; the last meeting was hosted by India on 22 September 2011 on the sidelines of G20 meetings and IMF/WB annual meetings in Washington DC.
High Representatives on Security (National Security Advisers)
11. Russia hosted a formal meeting of BRIC National Security Advisers in end May 2009 to discuss the security implications of the global financial and economic crisis. The second meeting of BRIC NSAs was held on 15 April 2010. The 3rd meeting of National Security Advisors was held in Sochi, Russia in October 2010.
Agriculture Ministers12. Two meetings of BRICS Agriculture Ministers have taken place; the first in Moscow on 26 March 2010 and the second in Chengdu, China on 28 October – 1 November 2011. A Joint Declaration was issued at the meeting in China and Action Plan for 2012-2016 for Agricultural Cooperation among BRICS countries outlining priority areas was adopted. A Working Group on Agriculture has also been set up to deepen cooperation in Agriculture.
Trade Ministers13. BRICS Trade Ministers met in Sanya, China on 13 April 2011 on the sidelines of the 3rd Summit as well as in Rio in April 2010 in the run-up to the 2nd BRIC Summit. Trade Ministers also met on the sidelines of the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in December 2011. Next standalone meeting of Trade Ministers is planned for 28 March 2012 in New Delhi before the 4th Summit.
BRICS Health Ministers
14. A meeting of BRICS Health Ministers was held in July 2011 in Beijing to explore areas of cooperation in the health sector.
Science & Technology Senior Officials15. The first meeting of Science & Technology Senior Officials was held on 14-16 September 2011 in Dalian, China.
BRICS Competition Conferences
16. The first meeting of BRIC Competition Authorities was held in Kazan, Russia on 1 September 2009. The 2nd meeting was hosted by China in Beijing on 20-22 September 2011. India will host the next meeting in 2013.
Business Forum17. Two BRICS Business Forum meetings have taken place; the last in Sanya on the sidelines of the 3rd Summit in April 2011. An MoU identifying Focal Points in BRICS countries for coordinating business activities was signed. The next meeting of Business Forum will be held in New Delhi on 27 March 2012 in the run-up to the next Summit.
BRICS Development Banks18. The first meeting of Development Banks was hosted by Brazil in April 2010. An MoU laying the foundation of BRICS Inter-Bank Cooperation Mechanism was signed at the Meeting. Following up on the MoU, BRICS Development Banks signed a Framework Agreement on' Financial Cooperation within the BRICS Inter-bank Cooperation Mechanism at the Sanya Summit.
Statistical Organizations
Science & Technology Senior Officials15. The first meeting of Science & Technology Senior Officials was held on 14-16 September 2011 in Dalian, China.
BRICS Competition Conferences
16. The first meeting of BRIC Competition Authorities was held in Kazan, Russia on 1 September 2009. The 2nd meeting was hosted by China in Beijing on 20-22 September 2011. India will host the next meeting in 2013.
Business Forum17. Two BRICS Business Forum meetings have taken place; the last in Sanya on the sidelines of the 3rd Summit in April 2011. An MoU identifying Focal Points in BRICS countries for coordinating business activities was signed. The next meeting of Business Forum will be held in New Delhi on 27 March 2012 in the run-up to the next Summit.
BRICS Development Banks18. The first meeting of Development Banks was hosted by Brazil in April 2010. An MoU laying the foundation of BRICS Inter-Bank Cooperation Mechanism was signed at the Meeting. Following up on the MoU, BRICS Development Banks signed a Framework Agreement on' Financial Cooperation within the BRICS Inter-bank Cooperation Mechanism at the Sanya Summit.
Statistical Organizations
19. BRICS National Statistical authorities have also had three meetings. The last meeting was held in Beijing in March 2011. BRICS National Statistical Authorities have also brought out a BRICS Statistical Publication; it was first issued at the 2nd Summit in Brasilia in April 2010 and its revised edition after South Africa’s joining of BRICS, was issued at the 3rd Summit in Sanya. The next Technical Meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in New Delhi on 6-8 February 2012 to revise the Publication so that the same could be released at the Delhi BRICS Summit.
BRICS Joint Study
20. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India is coordinating a Joint BRICS Study on the state of world economy during the next two years and the role of BRICS countries. Efforts are being made to release the Study at the next Summit on 29 March 2012 in New Delhi.
Academic Forum/Track-II
21. India hosted the first BRIC Academic Forum in May 2009 as preparatory event to feed into the first BRICS Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in June 2009. Brazil hosted the second Academic Forum before the second Summit on 14-15 April, 2010. China hosted the third meeting in Beijing in March 2011. The next meeting of Academic Forum will be held in New Delhi on 5-6 March 2012.
Other Areas of Engagement22. Other areas of engagement include meeting of Mayors of BRICS cities and BRICS Friendship Cities meeting (the first meeting held in Sanya, China on 1-3 December 2011) etc.
Issues on BRICS Agenda
23. The agenda of BRICS meetings has considerably widened over the years to encompass topical global issues such as international terrorism, WMDs, climate change, food and energy security, MDGs, international economic and financial situation etc.
BRICS Joint Study
20. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India is coordinating a Joint BRICS Study on the state of world economy during the next two years and the role of BRICS countries. Efforts are being made to release the Study at the next Summit on 29 March 2012 in New Delhi.
Academic Forum/Track-II
21. India hosted the first BRIC Academic Forum in May 2009 as preparatory event to feed into the first BRICS Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in June 2009. Brazil hosted the second Academic Forum before the second Summit on 14-15 April, 2010. China hosted the third meeting in Beijing in March 2011. The next meeting of Academic Forum will be held in New Delhi on 5-6 March 2012.
Other Areas of Engagement22. Other areas of engagement include meeting of Mayors of BRICS cities and BRICS Friendship Cities meeting (the first meeting held in Sanya, China on 1-3 December 2011) etc.
Issues on BRICS Agenda
23. The agenda of BRICS meetings has considerably widened over the years to encompass topical global issues such as international terrorism, WMDs, climate change, food and energy security, MDGs, international economic and financial situation etc.
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