Big 5 in BRICS
Meet in Goa with South Asia and Burma Heads, Pak Excluded
We,
the Leaders of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the
Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South
Africa, met on 15-16 October 2016 in Goa, India, at the Eighth BRICS Summit,
which was held under the theme “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective
Solutions.”
We
note with satisfaction the operationalisation of the
New Development Bank (NDB) and of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA),
which contributes greatly to the global economy and the strengthening of the
international financial architecture. We are pleased to note the progress in operationalising the Africa Regional Centre (ARC) of the
NDB and pledge our full support in this regard. We look forward to developing
new BRICS initiatives in a wider range of areas in the years to come.
We
note with appreciation the approval of the first set of loans by the New
Development Bank (NDB), particularly in the renewable energy projects in BRICS
countries. We express satisfaction with NDB’s issuance of the first set of
green bonds in RMB. We are pleased to note that the operationalisation
of BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangements (CRA) has strengthened the global
financial safety net.
In
order to reach out and enrich our understanding and engagement with fellow
developing and emerging economies, we will hold an Outreach Summit of BRICS
Leaders with the Leaders of BIMSTEC member countries - Bay of Bengal Initiative
for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
comprising of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Thailand. The meeting will be an opportunity to renew our friendship with
BIMSTEC countries as well as to jointly explore possibilities of expanding trade
and commercial ties, and investment cooperation between BRICS and BIMSTEC
countries, while advancing our common goals of peace, development, democracy
and prosperity.
We
express our commitment to resolutely reject the continued attempts to
misrepresent the results of World War II. We recall further that development
and security are closely interlinked, mutually reinforcing and key to attaining
sustainable peace.
We
remain confident that resolving international problems require collective
efforts for peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic
means. Implementation of principles of good-faith, sovereign equality of
States, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and cooperation
excludes imposition of unilateral coercive measures not based on international
law. We condemn unilateral military interventions and economic sanctions in
violation of international law and universally recognised
norms of international relations. Bearing this in mind, we emphasise
the unique importance of the indivisible nature of security, and that no State
should strengthen its security at the expense of the security of others.
We
recall the 2005 World Summit Outcome document. We reaffirm the need for a
comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to
making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the
representation of the developing countries so that it can adequately respond to
global challenges. China and Russia reiterate the importance they attach to the
status and role of Brazil, India and South Africa in international affairs and
support their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN.
We welcome the substantive measures undertaken by the
UN membership to make the process of selecting and appointing the UN
Secretary-General more transparent and inclusive.
We
express our gratitude to UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon for his
contributions to the United Nations in the past ten years. We congratulate Mr. AntónioGuterres, on his appointment as the
Secretary-General of the United Nations and express our support and to work
closely with him.
Cognizant of BRICS countries’ significant contributions
to UN Peacekeeping operations, and recognising the
important role of UN Peacekeeping operations in safeguarding international
peace and security, we realise the challenges faced
by UN Peacekeeping and emphasise the need to further
strengthen its role, capacity, effectiveness, accountability and efficiency,
while adhering to the basic principles of peacekeeping. We emphasise
that UN Peacekeeping operations should perform the duty of protection of
civilians in strict accordance with their respective mandates and in respect of
the primary responsibility of the host countries in this regard.
We
are deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.
We support all efforts for finding ways to the settlement of the crises in
accordance with international law and in conformity with the principles of
independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries of the
region. On Syria, we call upon all parties involved to work for a comprehensive
and peaceful resolution of the conflict taking into account the legitimate
aspirations of the people of Syria, through inclusive national dialogue and a
Syrian-led political process based on Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 and in
pursuance of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and 2268 for their full
implementation. While continuing the relentless pursuit against terrorist
groups so designated by the UN Security Council including ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra and other
terrorist organisations designated by the UN Security
Council.
We reiterate also the necessity to implement the
two-state solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the
relevant UNSC resolutions, the Madrid Principles and Arab Peace Initiative, and
previous agreements between the two sides, through negotiations aimed at
creating an independent, viable, territorially contiguous Palestinian State
living side-by-side in peace with Israel, within secure, mutually agreed and
internationally recognised borders on the basis of
1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as envisaged in the relevant UN
Resolutions.
We express deep concern at the persisting security
challenges in Afghanistan and significant increase in terrorist activities in
Afghanistan. We affirm support to the efforts of the Afghan Government to
achieve Afghan-led and Afghan-owned national reconciliation and combat
terrorism, and readiness for constructive cooperation in order to facilitate
security in Afghanistan, promote its independent political and economic course,
becoming free from terrorism and drug trafficking. The Leaders expressed the
view that capable and effective Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) should
be the key to the stabilisation of Afghanistan. In
this regard, the Leaders emphasised the need for
continued commitment of regional countries and wider international community,
including the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, which as the ISAF’s heir has a
key role in the ANSF capacity-building. The Leaders stressed the importance of
multilateral region-led interaction on Afghan issues, primarily by those organisations, which consist of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and other regional states, such as
the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Collective
Security Treaty Organization, and the Heart of Asia Conference.
We
welcome the African Union’s (AU) vision, aspirations, goals and priorities for
Africa’s development enshrined in Agenda 2063, which is complementary with the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We reaffirm our support for Africa’s
implementation of its various programmes in pursuit
of its continental agenda for peace and socio economic development. We will
continue to engage in joint endeavours to advance
Africa’s solidarity, unity and strength through support measures for regional
integration and sustainable development. We further welcome recent elections
that have been held in the continent and the peaceful manner in which they were
conducted.
We support the AU’s efforts to resolving conflicts
through its peace and security architecture, in collaboration with the United
Nations and the continent’s regional organisations,
and to contribute towards lasting and sustainable peace and security in Africa.
We welcome the decision of the African Union’s Assembly
to operationalise its Peace Fund, in order to
contribute to financing of its peace and security operations. We support
efforts aimed at full operationalisation of the
African Standby Force (ASF) and note the progress being made in this regard,
including the contributions by the African Capacity for Immediate Responses to
Crises (ACIRC).
We
express our concern that political and security instability continues to loom
in a number of countries that is exacerbated by terrorism and extremism. We
call upon the international community through the United Nations, African Union
and regional and international partners to continue their support in addressing
these challenges, including post-conflict reconstruction and development
efforts.
We
welcome the adoption of landmark 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and
its Sustainable Development Goals during the UN Summit on Sustainable
Development on 25 September 2015 and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda at the Third
International Conference on Financing for Development. We welcome the people-centred and holistic approach to sustainable development
enshrined in the 2030 Agenda and its emphasis on equality, equity and
quality-life to all. We welcome the reaffirmation of the guiding principles of
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
The 2030 Agenda, with its overarching focus on poverty
eradication, lays an equal and balanced emphasis on the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainable development. We call upon developed
countries to honour their Official Development
Assistance commitments to achieve 0.7% of Gross National Income commitment for
Official Development Assistance to developing countries. Those commitments play
a crucial role in the implementation of the SDGs. We further welcome the
establishment of a Technology Facilitation Mechanism within the UN with a
mandate to facilitate technology for the implementation of the SDGs.
We commit to lead by example in the implementation of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development inline
with national circumstances and development context respecting the national
policy space. We welcome the G20 Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development adopted during G20 Hangzhou Summit and commit to its implementation
by taking bold transformative steps through both collective and individual
concrete actions.
We
meet at a time when the global economic recovery is progressing, with improved
resilience and emergence of new sources of growth. The growth, though is weaker
than expected with downside risks to the global economy continuing to persist.
This gets reflected in a variety of challenges including commodity price
volatility, weak trade, high private and public indebtedness, inequality and
lack of inclusiveness of economic growth. Meanwhile, the benefits from growth
need to be shared broadly in an inclusive manner. Geopolitical conflicts,
terrorism, refugee flows, illicit financial flows and the outcome of UK
referendum have further added to the uncertainty in the global economy.
We reiterate our determination to use all policy tools
– monetary, fiscal, and structural, individually and collectively, to achieve
the goal of strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. Monetary policy
will continue to support economic activity and ensure price stability,
consistent with central bank’s mandates. Monetary policy alone, though, cannot
lead to balanced and sustainable growth. We, in this regard, underscore the
essential role of structural reforms. We emphasise
that our fiscal policies are equally important to support our common growth
objectives. We also take note that the spill-over effects of certain policy
measures in some systemically important advanced economies can have adverse
impact on growth prospects of emerging economies.
We recognise that innovation
is a key driver for mid and long term growth and sustainable development. We
stress the importance of industrialisation and
measures that promote industrial development as a core pillar of structural
transformation.
We highlight the need to use tax policy and public
expenditure in a more growth-friendly way taking into account fiscal space
available, that promotes inclusiveness, maintains resilience and ensures
sustainability of debt as a share of GDP.
We
note the dynamic integration processes across the regions of the world,
particularly in Asia, Africa and South America. We affirm our belief to promote
growth in the context of regional integration on the basis of principles of
equality, openness and inclusiveness. We further believe that this will promote
economic expansion through enhanced trade, commercial and investment linkages.
We
highlight the importance of public and private investments in infrastructure,
including connectivity, to ensure sustained long-term growth. We, in this
regard, call for approaches to bridge the financing gap in infrastructure
including through enhanced involvement of Multilateral Development Banks.
We
reaffirm our commitment to a strong, quota based and adequately resourced IMF.
Borrowed resources by the IMF should be on a temporary basis. We remain
strongly committed to support the coordinated effort by the emerging economies
to ensure that the Fifteenth General Review of Quotas, including the new quota
formula, will be finalised within the agreed
timelines so as to ensure that the increased voice of the dynamic emerging and
developing economies reflects their relative contributions to the world
economy, while protecting the voices of least developed countries (LDCs), poor
countries and regions.
We welcome the inclusion of the RMB into the Special
Drawing Rights (SDR) currency basket on 1October, 2016.
We
call for the advanced European economies to meet their commitment to cede two
chairs on the Executive Board of the IMF. The reform of the IMF should
strengthen the voice and representation of the poorest members of the IMF,
including Sub-Saharan Africa.
We
share concerns regarding the challenges of sovereign debt restructurings, and
note that timely and successful debt restructuring is key for ensuring access
to international capital markets, and hence economic growth, for countries with
high debt levels. We welcome the current discussions to improve the debt
restructuring process, and on the revised collective action clauses (CACs).
We
reiterate our support for the multilateral trading system and the centrality of
the WTO as the cornerstone of a rule based, open, transparent,
non-discriminatory and inclusive multilateral trading system with development
at the core of its agenda. We note the increasing number of bilateral,
regional, and plurilateral trade agreements, and
reiterate that these should be complementary to the multilateral trading system
and encourage the parties thereon to align their work in consolidating the
multilateral trading system under the WTO in accordance with the principles of
transparency, inclusiveness, and compatibility with the WTO rules.
We emphasise the importance
of implementing the decisions taken at the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial
Conferences. We stress the need to advance negotiations on the remaining Doha
Development Agenda (DDA) issues as a matter of priority. We call on all WTO
members to work together to ensure a strong development oriented outcome for
MC11 and beyond.
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BRICS
Condemns Terrorism, No Comment on “Hot Pursuit” We strongly condemn the recent
several attacks, against some BRICS countries, including that in India. We
strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed
that there can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism,
whether based upon ideological, religious, political, racial, ethnic or any
other reasons. We agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating international
terrorism both at the bilateral level and at international fora. To address the threat of chemical
and biological terrorism, we support and emphasise
the need for launching multilateral negotiations on an international
convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism,
including at the Conference on Disarmament. In this context, we welcome
India’s offer to host a Conference in 2018 aimed at strengthening
international resolve in facing the challenge of the WMD-Terrorism nexus. We call upon all nations to adopt
a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, which should include
countering violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, radicalisation, recruitment, movement of terrorists
including Foreign Terrorist Fighters, blocking sources of financing
terrorism, including through organised crime by
means of money-laundering, drug trafficking, criminal activities, dismantling
terrorist bases, and countering misuse of the Internet including social media
by terror entities through misuse of the latest Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs).Successfully combating terrorism requires a holistic
approach. All counter-terrorism measures should uphold international law and
respect human rights. We acknowledge the recent meeting
of the BRICS High Representatives on National Security and, in this context,
welcome the setting up and the first meeting of the BRICS Joint Working Group
on Counter-Terrorism on 14September 2016 in New Delhi. We believe it will
further promote dialogue and understanding among BRICS nations on issues of
counter terrorism, as well as coordinate efforts to address the scourge of
terrorism. We acknowledge that international
terrorism, especially the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also
known as Daesh) and affiliated terrorist groups and
individuals, constitute a global and unprecedented threat to international
peace and security. Stressing UN’s central role in coordinating multilateral
approaches against terrorism, we urge all nations to undertake effective implementation
of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and reaffirm our commitment on
increasing the effectiveness of the UN counter terrorism framework. We call
upon all nations to work together to expedite the adoption of the
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN General
Assembly without any further delay. We recall the responsibility of all
States to prevent terrorist actions from their territories. |
We
appreciate the progress in the implementation of the Strategy for BRICS
Economic Partnership and emphasise the importance of
the BRICS Roadmap for Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation until 2020. We
believe that close cooperation between the sectoral
cooperation mechanisms, BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues, the
BRICS Business Council, New Development Bank and the BRICS Interbank
cooperation mechanism is crucial in strengthening the BRICS economic
partnership. We welcome, in this context, the continued realisation
of the major BRICS economic initiatives such as enhanced cooperation in
e-commerce, “single window”, IPR cooperation, trade promotion and micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSMEs).We recognise non-tariff
measures (NTMs), services sector, and standardisation
and conformity assessments as possible areas of future cooperation. We note in
this context the meeting of BRICS Trade Ministers in New Delhi on 13 October
2016 and welcome its substantive outcomes.
In operationalising the
Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership, we encourage measures that support
greater participation, value addition and upward mobility in Global Value
Chains of our firms including through the preservation of policy space to promote
industrial development.
We welcome India’s initiative to host the first BRICS
Trade Fair in New Delhi. This is an important step towards the implementation
of Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership. We believe this will further
consolidate trade and commercial partnership among BRICS countries. We welcome
the deliberations and outcome of the meeting of BRICS Trade Ministers held on
13October 2016 in New Delhi.
We noted the Annual Report by the BRICS Business
Council, including the various initiatives undertaken by its Working Groups. We
further direct the Council to accelerate the development and realisation of joint projects which, on a mutually
beneficial basis, contribute to the economic objectives of BRICS.
We agreed that MSMEs provide major employment
opportunities, at comparatively lower capital cost, and create self-employment
opportunities in rural and underdeveloped areas. MSMEs thus help assure
equitable wealth distribution nationally and globally. We commend organisation of BRICS second round-table on MSMEs by India
with a focus on technical and business alliances in MSMEs Sector. We agree to
work for greater integration of MSMEs in Regional and Global Value Chains.
We
commend China for the successful hosting of the 11th G20 Leaders’ Summit in
Hangzhou and its focus on innovation, structural reform and development as
drivers of medium and long term economic growth. We recognise
the role of G20 as the premier forum for international and financial
cooperation and emphasise the importance of the
implementation of the outcomes of G20 Hangzhou Summit, that we believe will
foster strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth and will contribute
to improved global economic governance and enhance the role of developing countries.
We welcome experts exploring the possibility of setting
up an independent BRICS Rating Agency based on market-oriented principles, in
order to further strengthen the global governance architecture.
We welcome the reports of BRICS Think Tanks Council and
BRICS Academic Forum that have emerged as valuable platforms for our experts to
exchange views. They have submitted their valuable suggestions with regard to
promoting market research and analysis in BRICS and developing countries and
exploring possibilities of carrying this process forward. We believe that BRICS
institution-building is critical to our shared vision of transforming the
global financial architecture to one based on the principles of fairness and
equity.
We
commend our Customs administrations on the establishment of the Customs
Cooperation Committee of BRICS, and on exploring means of further enhancing
collaboration in the future, including those aimed at creating legal basis for
customs cooperation and facilitating procedures of customs control. We note the
signing of the Regulations on Customs Cooperation Committee of the BRICS in
line with the undertaking in the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership to
strengthen interaction among Customs Administrations.
We
recall the Fortaleza Declaration wherein we recognised
the potential for BRICS insurance and reinsurance markets to pool capacities
and had directed our relevant authorities to explore avenues for cooperation in
this regard. We would like this work to be expedited.
We
reaffirm our commitment towards a globally fair and modern tax system and
welcome the progress made on effective and widespread implementation of the
internationally agreed standards. We support the implementation of the Base
Erosion and Profit Shifting Project (BEPS) with due regard to the national
realities of the countries. We encourage countries and International Organisations to assist developing economies in building
their tax capacity.
We note that aggressive tax planning and tax practices
hurt equitable development and economic growth. Base Erosion and Profit
Shifting must be effectively tackled. We affirm that profit should be taxed in
the jurisdiction where the economic activity is performed and the value is
created. We reaffirm our commitment to support international cooperation in
this regard, including in the Common Reporting Standard for Automatic Exchange
of Tax Information (AEOI).
We note the ongoing discussions on international
taxation matters. In this regard, we recall the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on
Financing for Development including its emphasis on inclusive cooperation and
dialogue among national tax authorities on international tax matters with
increased participation of developing countries and reflecting adequate,
equitable, geographical distribution, representing different tax systems.
We
reiterate that outer space shall be free for peaceful exploration and use by
all States on the basis of equality in accordance with international law.
Reaffirming that outer space shall remain free from any kind of weapons or any
use of force, we stress that negotiations for the conclusion of an
international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space
are a priority task of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, and
support the efforts to start substantive work, inter alia, based on the updated
draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and
of the threat or use of force against outer space objects submitted by China
and Russian Federation. We also note an international initiative for a
political obligation on the no first placement of weapons in outer space.
Priority should be accorded to ensuring the long-term
sustainability of outer space activities, as well as ways and means of
preserving outer space for future generations. We note that this is an
important objective on the current agenda of the UN Committee on the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). In this respect, we welcome the recent decision
by the UNCOPUOS Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee Working Group on
Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities to conclude negotiations and
achieve consensus on the full set of guidelines for the long term
sustainability of outer space activities by 2018to coincide with the
commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on
the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE + 50).
We
reaffirm our commitment to the FATF International Standards on Combating Money
Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation and call for swift,
effective and universal implementation of FATF Consolidated Strategy on
Combating Terrorist Financing, including effective implementation of its
operational plan. We seek to intensify our cooperation in FATF and FATF-style
regional bodies (FSRBs).
We
welcome the outcome document of the Special session of the General Assembly on
the world drug problem, held in New York from 19-21 April 2016. We call for
strengthening of international and regional cooperation and coordination to
counter the global threat caused by the illicit production and trafficking of
drugs, especially opiates. We note with deep concern the increasing links
between drug trafficking and terrorism, money laundering and organised crime. We commend the cooperation between BRICS
drug control agencies and welcome the deliberations in second Anti-Drug Working
Group Meeting held in New Delhi on 8 July 2016.
We
reaffirm that ICT expansion is a key enabler for sustainable development, for
international peace and security and for human rights. We agree to strengthen
joint efforts to enhance security in the use of ICTs, combating the use of ICTs
for criminal and terrorist purposes and improving cooperation between our
technical, law enforcement, R&D and innovation in the field of ICTs and
capacity building institutions. We affirm our commitment to bridging digital
and technological divides, in particular between developed and developing
countries. We recognise that our approach must be
multidimensional and inclusive and contains an evolving understanding of what
constitutes access, emphasising the quality of that
access.
We reiterate that the use and development of ICTs
through international and regional cooperation and on the basis of universally
accepted norms and principles of international law, including the Charter of
the UN; in particular political independence, territorial integrity and
sovereign equality of States, the settlement of disputes by peaceful means,
non-interference in internal affairs of other States as well as respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to privacy; are of
paramount importance in order to ensure a peaceful, secure and open and
cooperative use of ICTs.
The increasing misuse of ICTs for terrorist purposes
poses a threat to international peace and security. We emphasise
the need to enhance international cooperation against terrorist and criminal
misuse of ICTs and reaffirm the general approach laid in the eThekwini,
Fortaleza and Ufa declarations in this regard. We reaffirm the key role of the
UN in addressing the issues related to the security in the use of ICTs. We will
continue to work together for the adoption of the rules, norms and principles
of responsible behaviour of States including through
the process of UNGGE. We recognise that the states
have the leading role to ensure stability and security in the use of ICTs.
We advocate also for an open, non-fragmented and secure
Internet, and reaffirm that the Internet is a global resource and that States
should participate on an equal footing in its evolution and functioning, taking
into account the need to involve relevant stakeholders in their respective
roles and responsibilities.
We recognise the importance
of energy-saving and energy-efficiency for ensuring sustainable economic
development and welcome the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in
this regard.
We
welcome the High Level meeting on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) during
UNGA-71, which addresses the serious threat that AMR poses to public health,
growth and global economic stability. We will seek to identify possibilities
for cooperation among our health and/or regulatory authorities, with a view to
share best practices and discuss challenges, as well as identifying potential
areas for convergence.
We reaffirm our commitment to promote a long-term and
balanced demographic development and continue cooperation on population related
matters in accordance with the Agenda for BRICS Cooperation on Population
Matters for 2015-2020.
We
affirm that the value of sharing expertise and experiences among BRICS
countries with regard to usage of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) in e-governance, financial inclusion, and targeted delivery of benefits,
e-commerce, open government, digital content and services and bridging the
digital divide. We support efforts aimed at capacity building for effective
participation in e-commerce trade to ensure shared benefits.
We welcome the forthcoming BRICS Telecommunication
Ministerial Meeting that will further strengthen our cooperation, including on
technology trends, standards developments, skill developments, and policy
frameworks.
We
believe it is necessary to ensure joint efforts towards diversification of the
world market of software and IT equipment. We call for developing and
strengthening the ICT cooperation in the framework of the BRICS Working Group
on ICT Cooperation.