The External Affairs Minister also emphasized the need for expansion of the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday called for the reform of the United Nations in commensurate with contemporary global realities and millions of people’s feelings in the world.

While he emphasized the need for expansion of the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, he also called for reformed multilateralism including reform of international bodies like UN, WTO, IMF and WHO.

He said so while participating at BRICS foreign ministers’ meet which was convened by Russia, the current BRICS chair. The meeting of foreign ministers, which is traditionally held in the capital of the BRICS Chair, was convened via video conference due to ongoing pandemic.

At the meet, which was attended by foreign ministers of all-member countries of the group, Jaishankar also highlighted the scourge of terrorism and called for enhanced BRICS cooperation in countering terrorism. He expressed satisfaction on the conclusion of BRICS Counter Terrorism Strategy.

The EAM assured BRICS partners that, as BRICS Chair in 2021, India will continue the work to strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation in all the three pillars viz. political and security, economic and trade and people to people.

Jaishankar also maintained that “our effort would be to consolidate intra BRICS solidarity and provide concrete institutional framework for the purpose.”

India reaffirmed its strong support for Russian BRICS Chairship in 2020 and the upcoming BRICS Leaders’ Summit under the overall theme of "BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth”.

The EAM highlighted the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiated by India as a dynamic and mutually beneficial global economic engagement, covering five key pillars, including- economy, infrastructure, technology, demography and demand, to help achieve rapid growth and development.

In his remarks, the EAM thanked the Russian Foreign Minister for convening this meeting. He highlighted that in the wake of grave challenges in economic, political and social and health fields, BRICS has an important role to play.

Earlier, BRICS foreign ministers’ discussions centred round overview of global situation – new threats and challenges, regional hot spots.

They also discussed possible BRICS cooperation on international forums including on key issues on the 75 UNGA agenda and reviewed the progress of activities under three pillars of BRICS cooperation and possible outcomes under Russian BRICS Chairmanship in 2020.