The BRICS Foreign Ministers held a meeting on September 26, 2013, on the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York. This gathering brought together the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss various international issues and matters of mutual interest.During the meeting, the BRICS Foreign Ministers exchanged views on major global and regional topics that were on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. The discussions likely covered a range of subjects in the political, security, economic, and sustainable development spheres, as these are typically areas of focus for BRICS nations.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the BRICS partnership and addressing claims about the group’s declining influence. This suggests that one of the topics discussed may have been the continued relevance and unity of the BRICS alliance in the face of global challenges.

Attendees

The foreign ministers of the five BRICS nations were present:

• Brazil: Luiz Alberto Figueiredo
• Russia: Sergey Lavrov
• India: Salman Khurshid
• China: Wang Yi
• South Africa: Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

Key Discussion Points

While specific details of the closed-door meeting are not widely available, based on the geopolitical context and BRICS’ focus areas, the following topics were likely discussed:

1. Syria Crisis: The ongoing civil war in Syria was a major international concern in 2013.
2. Iran Nuclear Program: Negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear activities were a significant global issue.
3. Economic Cooperation: Strengthening intra-BRICS trade and investment.
4. BRICS Development Bank: Discussions on the establishment of what would later become the New Development Bank.
5. UN Reform: BRICS nations have consistently advocated for reforms in the United Nations, particularly the Security Council.
6. Global Economic Governance: Enhancing the role of emerging economies in institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
7. Sustainable Development: Coordinating positions on climate change and post-2015 development agenda.

Significance of the Meeting

Coordination of Foreign Policy

These meetings allowed BRICS nations to align their positions on key international issues, potentially increasing their collective influence in global forums.

Countering Perceptions of Decline

As mentioned earlier, there were concerns about BRICS’ declining influence. This meeting served as an opportunity to reaffirm the group’s relevance and unity.

Preparation for Future Initiatives

Discussions at this meeting likely laid groundwork for future BRICS initiatives, such as the New Development Bank, which was formally established in 2014.

Strengthening South-South Cooperation

The meeting reinforced BRICS’ role in promoting cooperation among developing nations and emerging economies.

Outcome and Follow-up

The meeting provided an opportunity for the BRICS nations to coordinate their positions on various international matters and potentially discuss ways to enhance cooperation among their countries. While specific details of the discussions are not provided in the search results, it’s likely that the ministers addressed issues related to global governance, economic cooperation, and the role of BRICS in the international arena.This 2013 meeting was part of the ongoing tradition of BRICS Foreign Ministers convening during the UN General Assembly sessions to discuss matters of mutual interest and coordinate their approaches to global issues.