BRICS nations vow to coordinate positions on pol, eco issues

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Concerned over the impact of developments in West Asia and North Africa, India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa on Thursday vowed to coordinate their positions on global political and economic issues, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pressing for reform of the world bodies like the UN to make them truly representative.

At a Summit here, Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) unveiled a Declaration and an Action Plan which encompass greater coordination among the member countries on a range of issues including fight against terrorism, challenges to food energy and food security besides cooperation on finance, agriculture and sports.

The grouping discussed the issue of Libya and voiced opposition to use of force while underlining the need for resolving the issue through 'peaceful means and dialogue' in which the UN and regional organisations should play an appropriate role. "We are deeply concerned with the turbulence in the Middle East, the North African and West African regions and sincerely wish that the countries affected achieve peace, stability, prosperity and progress and enjoy their due standing and dignity in the world according to legitimate aspirations of their peoples," the Declaration said.

"We share the principle that the use of force should be avoided" and that the "independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each nation should be respected," it said.

Addressing the media after the Summit, Singh said the leaders had reviewed the international situation, discussed international economic, financial and trade issues, the challenges of sustainable development, food security, energy security and climate change.

The leaders agreed to intensify consultations to address the major economic and political challenges that face their countries, he said at the media interaction along with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff and South African President Jacob Zuma.

"I am deeply encouraged by the consensus among us of the need for an international order that is rule based and respects the unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of individual States," Singh said.

The developments in West Asia and North Africa and the aftermath of the huge tragedy that befell Japan have introduced 'fresh uncertainties' in the global economic recovery process, Singh noted.

Earlier, addressing the Summit, Singh said: "We should join hands in ensuring a peaceful and orderly transformation of the world order that reflects contemporary and emerging realities."

This should be the case whether it is the reform of political and security governance structures in the United Nations or the international financial, monetary or trade system, he emphasised.

"An important objective must remain the reform of institutions of global governance to make them truly representative of contemporary realities," Singh said at the Summit where South Africa joined to make it a five-nation grouping of fastest growing economies of the world.

Noting that the BRICS countries share the vision of inclusive growth and prosperity in the world, he said the grouping stands for a rule-based, stable and predictable global order. "We respect each other's political systems and stages of development. We value diversity and plurality. Our priority is the rapid socio-economic transformation of our people and those of the developing world. Our cooperation is neither directed against nor at the expense of anyone," he said.

Pointing out that the world continues to grapple with challenges like threats to security from terrorism and piracy, Singh referred to the Sanya Declaration and Action Plan, saying 'this is an extremely rich and ambitious agenda'.

He said the BRIC nations have embarked on a major enterprise of socio-economic change for their peoples. "Cooperation among BRICS holds the promise of building an external environment for ourselves that helps each of us and complements our task of nation building. To that extent I would say the best is yet to come," said Singh at the meet.