Kazan Declaration of the 16th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting (Summary)

On October 24, 2023, a summary of the Kazan Declaration from the 16th BRICS Leaders’ Summit was issued by Xinhua News in Kazan, Russia.

**Introduction**
The declaration reaffirms the BRICS spirit of mutual respect, equality, solidarity, openness, and collaborative development. It emphasizes enhancing cooperation across three key areas: political security, economic trade, and cultural exchanges. The aim is to build a more representative and equitable international order that fosters sustainable development and inclusive growth, deepening the BRICS strategic partnership for the benefit of all nations.

The leaders expressed their appreciation for the strong interest shown by the Global South in BRICS cooperation and endorsed the BRICS partnership model. They firmly believe that strengthening partnerships between BRICS nations and emerging markets and developing countries will further promote international collaboration.

**Strengthening Multilateralism for a Fairer World Order**
The summit acknowledged the emergence of new power centers, policymaking processes, and economic growth hubs globally, paving the path for a more equitable, balanced, and multipolar world order. This offers emerging markets and developing nations greater opportunities to participate in inclusive economic globalization. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and upholding the principles of the UN Charter, emphasizing cooperation based on unity, mutual respect, and fairness. They hailed mechanisms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as essential for enhancing dialogue and collaboration with the African continent.

The leaders reiterated support for comprehensive reforms of the UN, including its Security Council, to make it more democratic and representative, thereby enhancing the role of developing countries. They recognized the legitimate aspirations of African nations, as reflected in the Azurite Consensus and the Sirt Declaration.

Support for a multilateral trading system centered around the World Trade Organization was reaffirmed, with concerns raised about the detrimental effects of unilateral coercive measures on the global economy and trade. The leaders called for reform of the Bretton Woods system to increase representation for emerging markets and developing countries and acknowledged the pivotal role BRICS plays in enhancing the international monetary and financial system.

They recognized that technological transformations, including advancements in artificial intelligence, bring new opportunities for global socio-economic development. The leaders encouraged the UN to take a leading role in global AI governance and welcomed the resolution passed at the UN General Assembly aimed at strengthening international cooperation in AI capacity building, emphasizing a human-centered approach that fosters overall well-being and bridges the digital divide.

The declaration affirmed the universality and inclusivity of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals and underscored the importance of biodiversity conservation, including the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

**Promoting Cooperation for Global and Regional Stability**
The leaders reiterated their commitment to resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue, maintaining the core principles of the UN Charter, and supporting efforts conducive to peaceful crisis resolution while respecting the legitimate security concerns of all nations. They emphasized the importance of conflict prevention and addressing the root causes of conflicts.

Regarding the Ukraine situation, they commended efforts aimed at achieving peace through dialogue and diplomacy. The leaders expressed serious concern about the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the humanitarian crisis, highlighting the urgent need for an immediate, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. They reiterated support for Palestine’s bid for full UN membership and the vision of a two-state solution, emphasizing the importance of upholding Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The summit anticipated deeper practical cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts and called for strengthened dialogue on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. BRICS nations were urged to enhance their collaboration in preventing and combating corruption, calling for a collective effort against safe havens for corruption.

**Enhancing Economic and Financial Cooperation for Equitable Global Development**
The leaders reiterated their commitment to enhancing macroeconomic policy coordination, deepening economic cooperation, and driving strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive economic recovery. They urged developed countries to fulfill their development financing commitments and encouraged cooperation in various areas such as taxation, debt, trade, official development assistance, technology transfer, and international financial architecture reform.

The declaration emphasized the necessity of reforming the existing international financial architecture to make it more inclusive and equitable, addressing international debt challenges in a coordinated manner involving official bilateral creditors, private creditors, and multilateral development banks, based on the principles of joint action and fair burden-sharing.

Support was expressed for the New Development Bank’s implementation of its 2022-2026 strategy and for expanding financing in local currencies. The leaders agreed to collectively transform the New Development Bank into a new type of multilateral development bank for the 21st century and to expedite the review of membership applications from BRICS nations.

They encouraged deeper financial cooperation among BRICS countries and urged finance ministers and central bank governors to continue exploring local currency cooperation and payment mechanisms, with a report expected during the next BRICS presidency. The completion of amendments to the BRICS contingency reserve arrangement was welcomed.

The declaration underscored the importance of value chain cooperation among BRICS nations and recognized the work of the BRICS New Industrial Revolution Partnership Innovation Base. The leaders supported the establishment of a BRICS vaccine R&D center and strengthened collaboration among BRICS customs training centers, promoting the creation of demonstration centers and online platforms. They expressed hope for enhancing socio-economic development in BRICS countries through remote sensing satellite applications.

Initiatives for establishing a digital education cooperation mechanism among BRICS nations were supported, encouraging investment in basic research infrastructure and boosting scientific capacity and competitiveness. The leaders aimed to enhance cooperation in vocational and technical education and training.

**Fostering Cultural Exchanges for Socio-Economic Development**
The significance of cultural exchanges among BRICS countries in enhancing mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation was reaffirmed. The leaders called for respect for the diversity of world civilizations, valuing both cultural heritage and innovation, and for strengthening international cultural exchange partnerships. They recognized the importance of the UN General Assembly resolution on “International Day for Civilizational Dialogue.”

There is a commitment to further strengthen inter-parliamentary interactions among BRICS members, acknowledging the constructive role of dialogue among political parties in building consensus and deepening cooperation.

The successful hosting of the BRICS Business Forum was applauded, along with support for enhancing collaboration between BRICS Women Business Alliance and women entrepreneurs from the Global South. The initiation of a BRICS Financial Think Tank Network was also welcomed.