- 2024: 10-11 June, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- 2023: June 1, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2022: May 19, virtual (chaired by China)
- 2021: June 1, virtual (chaired by India)
- 2020: September 4, virtual (chaired by Russia)
- 2019: September 26, New York
- 2019: July 26, Rio de Janeiro
- 2018: September 27, New York
- 2018: June 4, Pretoria
- 2017: September 21, New York
- 2016: September 20, New York
- 2015: September 29, New York
- 2015: May 25, Moscow — Deputy Foreign Ministers
- 2014: September 25, New York
- 2014: March 24, The Hague
- 2013: September 26, New York
- 2012: September 26, New York
- 2011: November 24, Moscow, Russia
- 2011: September 23, New York
- 2010: September 21, New York
- 2009: September 24, New York
- 2009: May 16, Yekaterinburg
- 2008: September 25, New York
- The Stand-alone Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations under the Chairmanship of the Russian Federation was held via videoconferencing on 4 September 2020.
- The Ministers exchanged views on major international and regional issues in the political, security, economic, trade, financial and sustainable development spheres, as well as reviewed the progress in intra-BRICS activities. They discussed also the possibilities for mutual support of their initiatives and closer cooperation at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
- They recalled that 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The Ministers expressed support for continued cooperation of BRICS countries in areas of mutual interest, including through regular exchanges amongst their Permanent Missions to the United Nations and in other international fora.
- The Ministers reminded that, born out of the horrors of Second World War, the United Nations, as a common endeavor for humanity, was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. They expressed support for the high-level event on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The Ministers further called for a resolute stand against the rehabilitation of Nazi ideology, racism and xenophobia and the distortion of history. They reaffirmed the need to strengthen international cooperation to build a brighter shared future for the international community. They emphasized their support to efforts towards making international governance more inclusive, representative and participatory with greater participation of emerging markets and developing countries in international decision-making.
- The Ministers reaffirmed the commitment to upholding and respecting international law, including the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and to the central role of the UN in an international system in which sovereign States cooperate to maintain peace and security, advance sustainable development and ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. They also underlined the imperative that international organizations be fully driven by Member States and promote the interests of all. They called for the 75th anniversary of the UN to be celebrated by enhanced efforts to establish a more fair, just, inclusive, equitable and representative multipolar international system based on sovereign equality of States, non-intervention in their internal affairs, cooperation and mutual respect for interests and concerns of all. They underlined, in this regard, the imperative of refraining from any coercive measures not based on international law and the UN Charter.
- The Ministers recalled the 2005 World Summit Outcome document and reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of the developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global challenges. China and Russia reiterated the importance they attach to the status and role of Brazil, India and South Africa in international affairs and support their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN.
- The Ministers acknowledged the Joint Statement by BRICS Trade Ministers on Multilateral Trading System and the WTO Reform on 23 July 2020 and reaffirmed their support for a transparent, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory rules-based multilateral trading system, as embodied in the WTO. They reiterated the importance of WTO reform and emphasized the central role of the WTO in promoting predictability, stability and legal certainty for international trade. They underlined the importance of all WTO Members abiding by WTO rules and complying with their commitments, thus avoiding unilateral and protectionist measures, which run counter to the spirit and the rules of the WTO. The Ministers stressed the urgency of ensuring the restoration and preservation of the normal functioning of the WTO Dispute Settlement System. They noted also the importance of adopting trade facilitation measures to promote trade relations among BRICS countries.
- The Ministers recognized that current interconnected international challenges are a powerful reminder of the imperative to strengthen cooperation between States, and have to be addressed through reinvigorated diplomacy, strengthened and reformed multilateral system, including the UN, the WTO, the WHO, the IMF and other international organizations. The Ministers emphasized their grave concern over the major international challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its very serious health, social and economic impacts across the globe. They expressed their condolences for lives lost and their solidarity with the affected families, as well as their gratitude to all frontline health workers. The Ministers reiterated the pressing need to preserve jobs and income, in particular for the most vulnerable groups of society. They underscored the urgency of restoring international growth and international trade, strengthening markets stability and resilience. The Ministers stressed the value of cooperation between States, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
The Ministers recalled the decisions in the Ufa Declaration (2015) to intensify joint efforts on combating the risks of new infectious diseases. While acknowledging the role played by the WHO, they stressed the importance of enhancing BRICS countries’ positive contribution to international public health security, the need to pursue coordinated and decisive actions, both individually and collectively, including in the framework of the UN, the WHO and other international organizations. They also expect that the international community will be reviewing and drawing lessons from measures taken at all levels to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, including by intergovernmental institutions, so as to identify good practices and ensure better international preparedness to help States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and other current and future health challenges, including through mobilization of political support, financial investments and resources. They recalled the decision in the Johannesburg Declaration (2018) to establish the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre and encouraged its timely and effective operationalization.
- The Ministers underscored the need for intra-BRICS scientific, technical, innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation to achieve early economic recovery and high-quality development. In this regard, they recalled the Joint Declaration Regarding Strengthening Cooperation in the Area of the New Industrial Revolution adopted at the BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting on 24 August 2020 and commended the work of the PartNIR Advisory Group.
- The Ministers noted with appreciation the role of the New Development Bank (NDB) in infrastructure and sustainable development financing and its contribution to the efforts of BRICS States to address the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. They welcomed the decision of the NDB Board of Governors to establish an Emergency Assistance Facility up to USD 10 billion to meet related needs and the approval of 4 loans in the total amount of USD 4 billion. They also acknowledged the progress made by NDB in the preparatory work towards timely expansion of its membership.
- The Ministers stressed the importance of intra-BRICS cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. They underscored the imperative of dialogue to address increasing international peace and security challenges through political and diplomatic means. They stressed the need to continue to work together in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation, including by ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities as well as the prevention of an arms race in outer space. The Ministers emphasized the urgent need to negotiate a legally binding multilateral instrument that could fill the gap in the international legal regime applicable to outer space, including on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects. They stressed that practical transparency and confidence-building measures may also contribute towards this goal.
- The Ministers expressed concern over the security situation and continuing armed conflicts in parts of Africa and called for international support for regional and subregional initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and security in Africa based on the principle “African solutions to African problems” as articulated by Africans themselves. They further commended the African Union’s commitment to promote the “Silencing the Guns by 2020” initiative and underscored the importance of an enhanced partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of international peace and security.
- The Ministers expressed serious concern over the situation in Mali. They recalled that the United Nations and the African Union have underlined the urgent need to restore the constitutional order. They called upon all stakeholders to work constructively with ECOWAS to find a peaceful solution to the current impasse and to restore constitutional and democratic order in the country.
- The Ministers called for establishing long-term peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the basis of successful, direct and inclusive Intra-Afghan negotiations supported by international partners. The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. They condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Afghanistan.
- The Ministers expressed their support for continuing the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, including its denuclearization, and maintain peace and stability in North East Asia. They reaffirmed the commitment for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
- The Ministers emphasized the importance of developing further BRICS cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
- The Ministers expressed concern over the security situation and continuing armed conflicts in parts of Africa and called for international support for regional and subregional initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and security in Africa based on the principle “African solutions to African problems” as articulated by Africans themselves. They further commended the African Union’s commitment to promote the “Silencing the Guns by 2020” initiative and underscored the importance of an enhanced partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of international peace and security.
- The Ministers expressed serious concern over the situation in Mali. They recalled that the United Nations and the African Union have underlined the urgent need to restore the constitutional order. They called upon all stakeholders to work constructively with ECOWAS to find a peaceful solution to the current impasse and to restore constitutional and democratic order in the country.The Ministers expressed their support for continuing the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, including its denuclearization, and maintain peace and stability in North East Asia. They reaffirmed the commitment for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
- The Ministers emphasized the importance of establishing long-term peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the basis of successful, direct and inclusive Intra-Afghan negotiations supported by international partners. The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. They condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Afghanistan.
- The Ministers expressed their support for continuing the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, including its denuclearization, and maintain peace and stability in North East Asia. They reaffirmed the commitment for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
- The Ministers emphasized the importance of developing further BRICS cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. They underscored the imperative of dialogue to address increasing international peace and security challenges through political and diplomatic means. They stressed the need to continue to work together in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation, including by ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities as well as the prevention of an arms race in outer space. The Ministers emphasized the urgent need to negotiate a legally binding multilateral instrument that could fill the gap in the international legal regime applicable to outer space, including on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects. They stressed that practical transparency and confidence-building measures may also contribute towards this goal.
- The Ministers expressed concern over the security situation and continuing armed conflicts in parts of Africa and called for international support for regional and subregional initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and security in Africa based on the principle “African solutions to African problems” as articulated by Africans themselves. They further commended the African Union’s commitment to promote the “Silencing the Guns by 2020” initiative and underscored the importance of an enhanced partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of international peace and security.
- The Ministers expressed serious concern over the situation in Mali. They recalled that the United Nations and the African Union have underlined the urgent need to restore the constitutional order. They called upon all stakeholders to work constructively with ECOWAS to find a peaceful solution to the current impasse and to restore constitutional and democratic order in the country.
- The Ministers called for establishing long-term peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the basis of successful, direct and inclusive Intra-Afghan negotiations supported by international partners. The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. They condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Afghanistan.
- The Ministers expressed their support for continuing the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, including its denuclearization, and maintain peace and stability in North East Asia. They reaffirmed the commitment for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
- The Ministers emphasized the importance of establishing long-term peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the basis of successful, direct and inclusive Intra-Afghan negotiations supported by international partners. The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. They condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Afghanistan.
- The Ministers expressed their support for continuing the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, including its denuclearization, and maintain peace and stability in North East Asia. They reaffirmed the commitment for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
- The Ministers emphasized the importance of establishing long-term peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the basis of successful, direct and inclusive Intra-Afghan negotiations supported by international partners. The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. They condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks that took place in Afghanistan.
- The Ministers expressed their support for continuing the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, including its denuclearization, and maintain peace and stability in North East Asia. They reaffirmed the commitment for a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
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