Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered opening remarks at the 18th BRICS Summit session on Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening, marking the 20th anniversary of BRICS. India's BRICS Chairship was guided by a people-centric approach with priorities on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability, having organized more than 350 meetings across nearly 30 Indian cities.
The Prime Minister proposed establishing a BRICS Continuity and Implementation Mechanism through the Troika to ensure systematic follow-up on initiatives, suggesting a secure digital repository to record nodal points, timelines, and implementation status for every decision. He emphasized the need to transform global governance from a "pyramid of privilege" to a "platform of partnership" where the Global South has greater representation.
Modi outlined three key aspects for global governance reform: Representation, Responsiveness, and Rule-making. For Representation, he stressed that UN Security Council reform "can no longer be delayed" and should have clearly defined timelines and concrete outcomes, while financial institutions should reflect today's economic realities in voting power, leadership positions, and policy priorities.
Regarding Responsiveness, Modi proposed establishing a Seafarers Emergency Support Network to connect maritime authorities and missions, facilitating distress alerts, medical assistance, family communication, and evacuation support for seafarers who contribute significantly to global trade. For Rule-making, he emphasized equal participation in shaping future rules for AI, cyberspace, outer space, biotechnology, and critical technologies, suggesting BRICS provide negotiation skills, practical training, and legal expertise to young Global South diplomats and policymakers.
The Prime Minister proposed working toward ten proposals for global governance reform to develop into a BRICS Reform Roadmap by the next Summit, noting the particular significance of discussing these matters on the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.