The 7th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Culture was convened via video link on May 24, 2022, under the chairmanship of China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Hu Heping. Representatives from the cultural ministries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa participated in this virtual meeting.The key highlights of the meeting were:

Theme and Focus Areas

The meeting was held under the theme “Establishing a Cultural Partnership Featuring Inclusiveness and Mutual Learning among BRICS”. The discussions centered around:

• Promoting cultural digitization and cooperation in this area
• Strengthening collaboration on cultural heritage protection
• Advancing the building of cultural exchange platforms among BRICS nations

Adoption of BRICS Action Plan 2022-2026

The ministers adopted the “Action Plan for the Implementation of the Agreement between the Governments of the BRICS States on Cooperation in the Field of Culture (2022-2026)”. This five-year action plan aims to further strengthen cultural cooperation and implement the BRICS Cultural Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015.

India’s Perspectives Highlighted

India’s delegation was led by Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, who emphasized the following points:

• Providing platforms for familiarizing BRICS nations with India’s diverse cultural expressions through exchange programs and activities
• The crucial role of digital technologies in overcoming pandemic-related challenges and enabling virtual cultural exchanges
• India’s priorities of digitizing valuable cultural heritage collections and presenting them through virtual exhibitions
• Advocating for sustainable and resilient environments by integrating heritage and traditional knowledge into innovative solutions
• Highlighting India’s rich artistic legacy and its integral role in the global art world today
• Emphasizing the need for an inclusive and culturally sensitive development paradigm that integrates cultural heritage, creative industries, and collective intelligence

The meeting aimed to deepen cultural cooperation among BRICS nations, recognizing their shared civilizational ties, creative talents, and the role of culture in driving sustainable and inclusive development.