“The 10-point BRICS agenda as outlined by the Prime Minister of India in his Statement to the Plenary Session of the Fourth BRICS Leaders Summit should be supported by the non-state actors from among the BRICS countries and otherwise,” said Pradeep Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International.
Speaking to the media on the side of the Summit, Mehta highlighted the importance of this agenda on future growth and development of our economies and on the architectures of global economic governance. He urged BRICS Leaders to find innovative solutions to overcome barriers stalling the conclusion of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.
“A major criticism about BRICS, particularly in the western press, is what is common among these countries. The 10-point agenda of the Prime Minister of India and points made by other Heads of States have effectively addressed this criticism,” Mehta added.
Mehta supported the call made by the President of China – that differences between countries should be used as opportunities and that BRICS should coordinate with G-20 and move towards a multipolar world.
CUTS International is a non-governmental think- and action-tank working on a range of trade and regulatory issues. It is closely following the evolution of BRICS. Along with a group of like-minded organisations – Fundacao Getulio Vargas, Brazil; EcoAccord, Russia; CUTS International, India; Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Center, China; and South African Institute of International Affairs, South Africa – in November 2011, it catalysed the formation of BRICS Trade & Economics Research Network.
The objective of this Network is to assist BRICS with research and advocacy inputs on contemporary issues of development and global economic governance. Prior to the New Delhi Summit, the Network members submitted a set of recommendations to the BRICS Leaders Summit on many some of those contemporary issues.
“We are glad to note that many of our recommendations got reflected in the 10-point agenda as proposed by the Prime Minister of India and in the Statements made by other Heads of States,” Mehta concluded.
For more information, please contact:
Bipul Chatterjee, + 91 98292 85921, bc@cuts.org
Kshitiz Sharma, + 91 98288 89991, ks@cuts.org