The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Summit took place over two days in a closed-door format. This is the first meeting of heads of delegations of BRICS member countries this year to prepare the agenda for the BRICS Summit scheduled to take place in July.
In his opening speech, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira pointed out that the world order is undergoing profound changes, while existing institutions are having difficulty adapting, while emerging economies are increasingly demanding greater participation in global decisions. In that context, Mr. Vieira affirmed that BRICS plays a fundamental role in promoting a more just, comprehensive and sustainable world order. "A multipolar world is not only a reality that is taking shape, but also a common goal of ours," he said.
The Brazilian foreign minister stressed that a more balanced global system must be based on the principles of fairness, representation and the indispensable voice of BRICS. " BRICS is the embodiment of aspirations from countries in the global South, our role in shaping the future has never been so important" - the Brazilian Foreign Minister emphasized.
The Brazilian foreign minister also warned that the trend of trade protection could exacerbate global inequality. Accordingly, BRICS needs to "support an open, fair and balanced multilateral trade system", putting the interests of the global South first.
Vieira stressed the importance of alternative financial mechanisms, especially the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), to provide financial support for infrastructure projects and sustainable development. Brazil, as BRICS President 2025, will prioritize cooperation with the global South, focusing on six key areas: Global health cooperation; promoting trade, investment and finance; responding to climate change; artificial intelligence governance; reforming the multilateral peace and security system; developing BRICS institutions.
Speaking at the conference, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva highlighted the importance of cooperation for peace and multilateral security reform; said that unilateralism will undermine international order; and called for the consistent protection of multilateralism because, according to him, this is the only way to face the current polarization and division in the world.
President Lula da Silva said that countries need to further strengthen cooperation in the field of global health, finance for trade, investment, finance, combat climate change as well as use countries' currencies in trade activities.
The President assessed that strengthening the global health sector, with the World Health Organization (WHO) as the focus, is the "key" to ensuring fair and equal access to drugs and vaccines, which are necessary factors for the sustainable development of countries.
Referring to the application of AI, Mr. Lula da Silva said that AI brings great opportunities, but also comes with ethical, social and economic challenges. He announced that Brazil is proposing BRICS to issue a joint statement on Artificial Intelligence Governance for Development.
BRICS, which expanded last year, now has 11 members and nine partner countries. This expansion reflects a shift in global power, as emerging economies increasingly play a key role in international governance, as Foreign Minister Vieira emphasized, developing countries cannot just be "audiences" but must become key factors in shaping the 21st century order.
