Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his closing address at the Modi BRICS summit in New Delhi on Sunday to demand member nations convert signed agreements into tangible, time-bound action, warning that files must translate into ‘real-life impact’.
Speaking alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Modi said rising geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and climate crises are increasingly harming ordinary people worldwide.
‘The number of conflicts and tensions in the world is continuously increasing, and this is having an increasingly negative and far-reaching impact on the lives of ordinary people,’ Modi said.
Modi BRICS summit call: from files to real-life impact
Modi described the two-day discussions as evidence that ‘BRICS is not merely a group of countries, but an ecosystem of solutions.’ He also warned that the ‘weaponization of technology and critical minerals’ could hinder global development and shared prosperity.
He wished China success as it takes over the BRICS chair for the next term.
One concrete outcome announced at the summit: the bloc agreed to establish an integrated early warning system for infectious diseases, aimed at boosting preparedness and response to future outbreaks.
‘Pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions have shown that in today’s interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region,’ Modi said.
Joint declaration targets sanctions, trade barriers and UN reform
In a joint declaration issued on Saturday, the 11-member bloc expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and Sudan, calling for disputes to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
The leaders reiterated support for a multipolar world order and reforms to the United Nations, including its Security Council. They also called for reforms to global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The declaration opposed unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures, criticising those not authorised by the UN. Rising tariffs and non-tariff barriers were also criticised as undermining global trade and supply chains.
The bloc backed greater use of local currencies in trade and stronger cross-border payment systems, alongside calls for cooperation on food security, energy, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and climate action.
Forging consensus among Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which hold competing positions on key regional and geopolitical issues, was described as a complex diplomatic challenge amid ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions.
Founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, BRICS has expanded to 11 members representing about half the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output. The bloc has sought greater representation for developing countries in global institutions and promoted alternatives to Western-dominated financial systems.
China now takes on the BRICS chair, with its presidency set to shape the bloc’s agenda for the coming term.
