BRICS Summit 2023: Collaborative Efforts And Global Issues At Centre Stage

The representatives of the BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa gathered in Johannesburg from Tuesday to Thursday this week for the 15th summit.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, China’s President Xi Jinping, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the three-day summit in person, while Russian President Vladimir Putin attended virtually.

In his opening remarks at the summit, PM Modi said that India “fully supports the expansion” of the BRICS group.

Ramaphosa concentrated on collaborations with Africa and how the BRICS could elevate the concerns of the continent.

Speaking via video stream, Putin denounced "ongoing neocolonialism" and nations that uphold their own hegemony. He also added that Russia is open to dialogue to find a resolution to the war in Ukraine, which Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

Lula said that BRICS countries are ready to join efforts to seek an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. “All deserve to live in peace,” he said.

Emphasising on the importance of stability and certainty, Xi urged that countries should “respect all modernisation paths” that individual nations choose for themselves.