Putin, Singh to enhance global role for BRICS
October 21, 2013, 6:17 pm

India and Russia have voiced strict opposition to foreign military interference in the Syrian crisis

Meeting at the Kremlin on Monday for the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit, the two leaders confirmed their support for the eThekwini Action Plan for multilateral development, integration and coordination, which was adopted at the 2013 BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa last March.

The eThekwini Action Plan calls for increased ministerial meetings on the sidelines of international conferences and events, and proposes creating new areas of cooperation such as creating a BRICS virtual secretariat.

A joint statement issued by the two leaders following their meeting stressed the importance of developing all aspects of multilateral cooperation within BRICS as the most solid basis for further
strengthening of diverse ties among its members.

“The countries support the projects for establishing the BRICS Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement among BRICS states,” the statement said.

India agreed to consider a Russian proposal to develop a Strategy of Multilateral Economic Cooperation of BRICS member states, the statement added.

“The sides expressed confidence that the forthcoming BRICS summit in Brazil will help strengthen the role of BRICS on the international stage.”

The two sides also expressed their determination to strengthen BRICS as a “mechanism for strategic and ongoing coordination of the activities undertaken by the member states on a growing range of international political and economic issues.

Regarding international conflicts, both sides urged the global community to work within international law and through the United Nations.

On Syria, both India and Russia said that the crisis in Syria should not be resolved by force, and could be settled only through political and diplomatic means. They also supported an international summit on the Syrian situation to be held in Switzerland.

Source: Agencies