Your Highness,

Excellencies,

It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this meeting with my friends from the extended BRICS family. My heartfelt thanks to President Lula for giving me the opportunity to share my views with friendly countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia in the BRICS Outreach Summit.

Friends,

Our confidence in the diversity and multipolarity of the BRICS Group is our greatest strength. Today, as the world order faces pressures from all sides, and the world is going through many challenges and uncertainties, the increasing relevance and influence of BRICS is natural. We should together consider how BRICS can become a guide for the multipolar world in the times to come.

I would like to submit a few suggestions in this regard:

Firstly, under BRICS, our economic cooperation is progressing steadily. The BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women Business Alliance have played a special role in this. Under Brazil's presidency, special emphasis has been laid on reforms in the International Financial System. We welcome this.

In the form of BRICS New Development Bank, we have offered a strong and credible alternative to support the development aspirations of countries in the Global South. While approving projects, the NDB must focus on demand-driven approaches, long-term financial sustainability, and healthy credit rating. Strengthening our internal systems will further enhance the credibility of our call for reformed multilateralism.

Secondly, today the countries of the Global South have some special expectations and aspirations from BRICS. We can work together to fulfil them. For instance, the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, established in India, is a valuable initiative to enhance collaboration in agricultural research. It can become a medium for sharing research and best practices in topics such as agri-biotech, precision farming, and climate change adaptation. We can also extend its benefits to countries in the Global South.

Similarly, India has launched the ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ initiative to ensure nationwide access to academic journals. Similar efforts have been undertaken in other BRICS countries as well. I propose that we collectively explore the creation of a BRICS Science and Research Repository, which could also serve as a valuable resource for the countries of the Global South.

Third, we need to work together to make supply chains for critical minerals and technology secure and reliable. It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others.

Fourth, in the 21st century, the progress and well-being of people largely depends on technology, especially Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI can greatly improve everyday life; while on the other hand, it also raises concerns about risks, ethics, and bias. India’s approach and policy on this topic are clear: We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of "A.I. for All", today we’re widely and actively using AI in sectors like agriculture, health, education, governance in India.

We believe that resolving concerns and encouraging innovation should be given equal importance in AI Governance. We must work together for Responsible AI. Global standards must be created that can verify the authenticity of digital content, so that we can identify the source of the content and maintain transparency and prevent misuse.

The "Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of AI” being released in today’s meeting is a positive step in this direction. For improved cooperation between all countries, we shall be organising the "AI Impact Summit” next year in India. We hope for your active participation to make this summit a great success.

Friends,

The Global South has many hopes from us. To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of "Lead by Example". India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.

Thank you very much.

DISCLAIMER - This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister's remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.

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MJPS/ST

Read this release in: Hindi

Multilateralism Press Release