BRICS Cities & Local Govt Forum pitches for coop among 15 countries

Russian city of Kazan hosted the BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Government Cooperation Forum on October 19-20, part of which was in the virtual format. Representatives from 15 countries (including India, China, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, etc.) were part of Forum.

As many as 56 cities (including Moscow, New Delhi, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai, Polokwane, Hangzhou, Wuhan, etc.) took part in it.

On the first day of the Forum, October 19, during four sessions, experts discussed mechanisms for introducing the smart city concept, ensuring sustainable development of cities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, openness, safety, environmental sustainability, as well as the development of inter-municipal cooperation between the participants of the BRICS countries. The key event was

the plenary session, which took place on the second day of the Forum, on October 20.

At the end of the Forum, its participants adopted a final declaration in which they emphasized the importance of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals to improve the quality of life and well-being of the population of cities in the countries of the Forum.

The central theme of the 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which will be held under the Russian BRICS Chairmanship on October 27 via videoconference is BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth: Parliamentary Dimension”.

According to the Chairman of the State Duma (Lower House) of the Russian Federation Viacheslav Volodin, who will chair the Forum, “Russia will propose to discuss with the colleagues, members of the parliaments of the BRICS countries, issues of strengthening of the kay international institutions such as the UN and the World Health Organization. Issues of building a system of international relations on the principles of mutual respect and respect for sovereignty will be also discussed at the meeting.”

The Forum participants also plan to discuss issues of improving the standards and quality of life of citizens of the BRICS countries, preparing legislative initiatives to improve the health care systems, issues of social protection and economic recovery in the pandemic conditions, as well as the further development of parliamentary cooperation within the BRICS. The heads of the BRICS parliamentary delegations (Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa) will address the Forum participants.