12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum to be inaugurated in New Delhi today
NEW DELHI: The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be inaugurated at the Parliament House Complex in New Delhi on Monday, bringing together parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss people-centric development, international cooperation and contemporary global challenges.
The two-day forum, hosted by the Parliament of India on October 26 and 27, will deliberate on the overarching theme, “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.” The discussions will focus on four key areas — Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the forum on Monday and interact with the leaders of visiting delegations.
Ahead of the forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday held a bilateral meeting with a Russian parliamentary delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
During the meeting, the two sides emphasised the need to strengthen parliamentary cooperation at global platforms and intensify collective efforts to combat terrorism. Birla highlighted the longstanding India-Russia friendship, rooted in mutual trust, respect and shared aspirations, and appreciated Russia’s continued support for India in its fight against terrorism.
He stressed that the international community must demonstrate unity and resolve against terrorism to promote global peace and stability.
Noting that India and Russia will mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, Birla said the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries has been further strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also called for sustained institutional engagement between the Lok Sabha and the State Duma through regular meetings of the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission and exchanges of parliamentary delegations, particularly young and women parliamentarians.
Referring to India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, Birla underscored the importance of a people-centric approach and called for Russia’s active participation in strengthening cooperation among BRICS legislatures. He highlighted the need for collective action on challenges such as climate change and terrorism, alongside reforms to make international institutions more responsive to changing global realities.
Birla reiterated India’s call for reform of the United Nations Security Council and appreciated Russia’s continued support for India’s permanent membership of the Council.
The discussions also explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy, industry, trade and agriculture. Both sides emphasised the importance of cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts in further strengthening bilateral relations.
Volodin called for promoting joint business ventures and removing obstacles to bilateral trade and investment. He also emphasised regular exchanges between the Indian Parliament and the State Duma, including through multilateral platforms such as BRICS, and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to cooperation in cultural and humanitarian fields.
Earlier, Birla also held meetings with parliamentary delegations from Cuba, Egypt and Belarus, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral and parliamentary engagement.
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will facilitate consensus-based dialogue through four high-level sessions focusing on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. A special meeting of the chairpersons of the International Affairs Committees of parliaments from BRICS member and partner countries will also be held to discuss parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and the exchange of best practices.
The programme will include plenary sessions, parallel meetings, bilateral engagements and a cultural programme. The Vice-President of India will host a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitaries.
