8th BRICS Meeting 2016 – Looking Ahead To A Changing World Order

Leaders from the five BRICS countries met in Goa, India on October 15-16 for their 8th BRICS Summit. While some member economies are seen to be struggling, overall, the leaders expressed a positive vision and plan for the future. 

The BRICS, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa contain 43% of the world population, 30% of the world’s GDP and 17% or world trade.

At the end of the 8th BRICS summit the organization issued the Goa Declaration that affirmed the organization’s strong support for ongoing activities focused on international cooperation, particularly those sponsored by the United Nations.

The Declaration touched on a number of key points including:

• Committing to strengthen and maintain BRICS solidarity
• Supporting the development of a multi-polar world based on the role of the UN and international law
• Stressing that international problems require joint efforts to solve
• Condemning unilateral military interventions and sanctions not based on international law
• Expressing concern about the Middle East and North Africa
• Emphasizing its support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian question
• Committing itself to the implementation of the 2030 Accord for Sustainable Development
• Welcoming India’s decision to hold the first BRICS Trade Fair in New Delhi
• Stressing the importance of an invigorated and inclusive world economy
• Supporting the continuing use of nuclear energy
• Calling for the peaceful, non-military use of outer space
• Strongly condemning terrorism and called ISIL a threat to world peace
• Expressing their commitment to gender equality as put forth in the 2030 Agenda

Government of India BRICS web page

Goa Declaration full text

Photo: Government ZA via flickr