New Delhi, October 23 (H.S.): India will use the upcoming BRICS Parliamentary Forum summit to advocate people-centric innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technology, while urging parliaments across the world to strengthen their engagement with citizens and build closer, more vibrant relationships with the public. The objective is to reinforce the viability, relevance and effectiveness of the parliamentary system.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made these remarks on Friday while briefing a select group of journalists in New Delhi about the forthcoming BRICS Parliamentary Forum summit.

Birla emphasised that parliamentary diplomacy plays a significant role in the evolving landscape of international geopolitics. He noted that direct dialogue between parliamentary representatives, independent of government-to-government engagement, often provides a more immediate and meaningful connection with the people of the countries concerned.

India has constituted 64 Parliamentary Friendship Groups to maintain sustained parliamentary dialogue and engagement with various countries. According to Birla, these groups have made valuable contributions to diplomatic outreach. During Operation Sindoor, parliamentary delegations effectively communicated India's position to audiences across the world, helping convey the country's perspective and influence international opinion.

He added that India would work towards making these Parliamentary Friendship Groups more active and effective, while also establishing new groups wherever necessary.

Birla said the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum would deliberate on four key themes—resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability—across four separate sessions.

Three sessions will be held on the first day. The first will examine the crucial role of parliaments in strengthening institutional resilience. The second will focus on leveraging parliamentary institutions to promote human-centric innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technology. The third will explore the importance of parliamentary cooperation in advancing a more inclusive system of global governance.

The fourth session, scheduled for the concluding day, will deliberate on the role of parliaments in ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for participating countries. Birla said a joint statement would be issued on the final day of the summit.

Asked about the collective message expected from the forum and India's contribution to parliamentary cooperation, the Lok Sabha Speaker said India had promoted several initiatives aimed at strengthening the institutional capacities of parliaments and their members, enhancing accountability, fostering closer ties between legislatures and citizens, and ensuring that parliamentary proceedings reflect public aspirations. He observed that several parliaments around the world had taken note of these initiatives and adopted similar practices.

Birla reiterated that the BRICS Parliamentary Forum would convey a clear message to legislatures worldwide: parliaments must reach out more effectively to citizens and establish deeper, more dynamic relationships with the people they represent.

He said participating countries would be encouraged to adapt relevant practices to their respective domestic circumstances. These would include facilitating dialogue between parliaments, exchanging best practices, deliberating on global challenges, enhancing the capacities of parliamentarians, promoting the human-centric development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and ensuring that parliamentary institutions remain accessible and responsive to the public.

Responding to a question about participation, Birla said six BRICS member countries and eight specially invited countries would attend the summit. Russia is expected to send the largest delegation, while China will be represented by a deputy speaker of its parliament, who is scheduled to assume the presidency of the next BRICS Parliamentary Forum hosted by India. The Speaker of Iran's parliament will also attend the summit.

Birla added that he would hold bilateral meetings with the heads of the delegations attending the forum.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar