The theme of the summit will be ‘BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth’

BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will in all likelihood hold its 12th summit in November in a virtual format. To be conducted by the 2020 BRICS chair, Russia, the summit will be taking place in the backdrop of tense standoff between India and China on the Line of Actual Control and surging Covid-19 pandemic and its devastative impact on humanity.

During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be face to face with each other amid mounting tension between the two countries.

The BRICS Summit 2020 will be held on the theme of ‘BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth.’

In the statement, Adviser to the Russian President, Anton Kobyakov said that the Summit will provide impetus for strengthening cooperation among the countries.

He said, “Despite the current global situation due to the spread of the coronavirus infection, the activities under the Russian BRICS Chairmanship in 2020 are carried out in a consistent manner. Since January 2020 more than 60 events have been organized, including via videoconferencing. The BRICS Summit will be the jewel-in-the-crown event of the Russian BRICS Chairmanship, which will provide impetus for further strengthening cooperation together with our partners to ensure well-being of BRICS countries.”

The statement said that the countries have decided to continue their partnerships on the three major pillars which are Peace and Security, Economy and Finance and Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges.

The statement said, “The main purpose of the Russian BRICS Chairmanship in 2020, as it is for a multifaceted cooperation between the BRICS countries, is to contribute to raising living standards and quality of life for our peoples.”

Nevertheless, the Indian side has left no stone unturned on calling out and telling China to check its hostility at all possible global platforms in the past five months.

In fact, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, on September 4 met with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the SCO meet held in Moscow.

It was the first high level meeting held between India and China amid ongoing tension on the Indo-China border. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asked the Chinese side to maintain the status quo ante.

India refused to be a part of the Annual Military Exercise Kavkaz 2020 along with Chinese and Pakistani troops, although it cited COVID-19 pandemic as the main cause of withdrawal.

Similarly, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar later held a bilateral discussion with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow where he had gone to attend the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting.

During Jaishankar and Wang Yi meet, both sides had reached five points consensus to de-escalate the situation in Ladakh including the disengagement of troops at the LAC.

As far as the BRICS member countries are concerned, India has been enjoying the inclination of these nations towards the Indian subcontinent.

While Russia facilitated a meeting between India and China, the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) meet which was held last month saw the three nations pushing for reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) where China is a permanent member.