BRICS will assist India to fight COVID-19, says China Minister

The Foreign Ministers of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping on Tuesday expressed “grave concern” with regard to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a digital assembly, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed solidarity with India over the current surge in COVID-19 circumstances and stated the grouping was prepared to assist the nation fight the pandemic “as long as needed”.

The Ministers additionally agreed on reforming the multilateral system, which was the “first time” that such a consensus was reached, sources stated.

“The Ministers expressed grave concern over the continuing public health, societal and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic globally. They expressed condolences for lives lost and pledged solidarity with the affected families,” an announcement issued after the assembly stated.

The gathering described the pandemic as probably the most severe challenges earlier than the world, whereas additionally highlighting the significance of “respect for territorial integrity” and the “sovereign equality” of states.

In his feedback, Mr. Wang stated, “At this trying time, China stands in solidarity with India and all the BRICS countries. As long as it is needed by India, I believe that all BRICS partners, including China, will provide further support and assistance at any time. We are fully confident that India will certainly overcome the pandemic.”

Welcoming the members, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar recollected the journey that the BRICS Foreign Ministers had undertaken since their first assembly in New York in 2006. India is the Chair of BRICS for 2021, when the organisation completes its fifteenth yr of existence.

A joint assertion issued after the assembly referred to as for “equitable” entry to vaccines, medicines and applied sciences in addition to tools to cope with the pandemic. “The Ministers reaffirmed the need to use all relevant measures during the pandemic, including supporting ongoing consideration in the WTO [World Trade Organization] on a COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property rights waiver and the use of flexibilities of the TRIPS [Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights] agreement and the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and public health,” the assertion stated.

India and South Africa have been demanding the TRIPS waiver for the COVID-19 vaccines. The point out of the time period “flexibilities” within the joint assertion is being considered as a normative step ahead in the direction of higher vaccine equality and availability on the planet.

Apart from the assist on the WTO, the Foreign Ministers additionally expressed assist for the “comprehensive strengthening and reforming” of the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, the UN Secretariat and the Economic and Social Council.

In an in depth part, they stated the workings of the worldwide multilateral preparations ought to be extra “responsive” and “inclusive”.

“It should strengthen capacities of individual States and international organizations to better respond to new and emerging, traditional and non-traditional challenges, including those emanating from terrorism, money laundering, cyber-realm, infodemics and fake news,” the joint assertion stated.

The assertion additionally mirrored the grouping’s dedication to cope with world terrorism and expressed dedication to totally implement the BRICS Counter Terrorism Strategy, together with a “result-oriented action plan”. It additionally supported a sustainable answer to the Afghan disaster.

The members, which included Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco and South African Foreign Minister Grace Naledi Pandor, referred to as for “transparency” in recruitments to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).