BRICS Parliamentary Forum to be held in Delhi on October 26-27, says Om Birla

New Delhi is all set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26 and 27, with parliamentary leaders and delegates from member and partner countries set to gather in the national capital for two days of discussions, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the forum and interact with leaders of the visiting delegations, Birla told a press conference.

Held under India's chairship, this year's forum will centre on the theme 'Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development'. The discussions will look at how parliaments can work more closely on shared challenges, from the growing use of artificial intelligence to reforms in global governance and sustainable development.


Birla said the event would provide a platform for bilateral and multilateral talks, allowing participating countries to exchange views on their parliamentary priorities and explore areas of cooperation.

The two-day conference will have four high-level sessions covering institutional resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Among the issues on the agenda are strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring the ethical use of AI, making better use of digital technologies and building a more representative global governance system.

Sustainable and inclusive development will also feature prominently in the discussions, with participating countries expected to explore ways in which parliamentary cooperation can help address common concerns.

A separate meeting of the chairs of international affairs committees from BRICS member and partner parliaments will focus on parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and the exchange of best practices.

On participation, Birla said most countries had confirmed their attendance, although some would be unable to send representatives because of local elections. Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia will not participate, he said. Speakers and deputy speakers from several other countries are expected to attend.

So far, 18 countries have submitted suggestions for the forum, which will be taken up during the deliberations, Birla added.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also spoke about India's efforts to strengthen parliamentary ties beyond the BRICS grouping through Parliamentary Friendship Groups.

India has initiated the formation of such groups with 64 countries, while efforts are underway to expand them in nations where similar parliamentary forums with India already exist.

"This is the first time such a major effort has been undertaken, although attempts were made in the past," Birla said.

He added that the initiative would continue to grow and expand.




(With PTI inputs)