NEW DELHI, September 12 (H.S): Leaders at the 18th BRICS Summit on Saturday adopted a comprehensive 140-point joint declaration calling for urgent reforms in global governance, stronger representation for developing nations and an end to unilateral trade protectionism.

Hosted in New Delhi under India's 2026 chairship, the two-day summit focused on global economic uncertainties, regional security crises and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the voice of the Global South.

In a major push for multilateral reform, the New Delhi Declaration called for comprehensive restructuring of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council, to make it more representative of emerging and developing economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Permanent Security Council members China and Russia reiterated their support for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the UN system, including the Security Council.

The leaders also called for reforms in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, stressing that quota shares and voting power should reflect the contemporary economic weight of emerging markets.

On trade and finance, BRICS leaders expressed concern over unilateral coercive sanctions, non-tariff trade barriers and discriminatory carbon border taxes, saying such measures distort global trade.

The declaration highlighted technical progress by the BRICS Payment Task Force in facilitating cross-border payment interoperability and trade settlements in local currencies. Leaders also welcomed work towards establishing a dedicated BRICS Grain Exchange to strengthen global food security and supported the continued expansion of infrastructure financing by the New Development Bank.

On international security, the declaration reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to diplomacy, conflict prevention and international law. Expressing deep concern over the situation in Gaza, the leaders called for implementation of UN resolutions, unhindered humanitarian access and a viable two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.

BRICS leaders also condemned attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards and recent deliberate strikes targeting UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon.

On counter-terrorism, the leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and specifically referred to the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. They called for zero tolerance towards terrorism, an end to double standards and the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

Looking towards emerging areas of global growth, the leaders endorsed the BRICS Leaders' Statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, calling for international cooperation to promote safe, inclusive and trustworthy AI development while safeguarding the technological interests of developing economies.

In the energy sector, the declaration acknowledged the continued role of fossil fuels during just and orderly energy transitions and called for resilient supply chains for critical minerals.

The leaders also commemorated the upcoming 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic spaceflight and pledged deeper cooperation on outer-space sustainability and health initiatives.

These included the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle (2026-2029) and a mental health network led by India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).

China will assume the BRICS chairship for 2027 and host the 19th BRICS Summit.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar