New Delhi [India]: The two-day 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will conclude in New Delhi today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is also the Chairperson of the Forum, will deliver the valedictory speech after the adoption of the joint statement. Thereafter, the presidency will be handed over to China. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will host lunch in honour of the presiding officers and leaders of the delegation of Member and Partner Countries. The second and final day of the forum will begin with the fourth plenary on Sustainability: The role of parliaments in fostering a sustainable and inclusive future for our nations.
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum began yesterday with the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with MPs from BRICS nations during the Forum. They exchanged perspectives on a wide range of issues. In his inaugural address, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called upon the Parliaments of BRICS member and partner countries to strengthen their collective resolve towards people-centric development, global peace, sustainability and international cooperation. Emphasizing the transformative potential of parliamentary engagement, he underscored the need to harness the collective wisdom of nations to address shared challenges, deepen mutual understanding and bring meaningful, positive change to the lives of citizens.
Mr Birla also addressed the First Plenary Session of the Forum, which focused on the Critical Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Institutional Resilience for a Better Future.
Addressing the Second Plenary Session focusing on Harnessing Parliaments for Promoting Human-centric Innovation in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, Mr Birla said, from Artificial Intelligence to Digital Transformation, the challenge is not merely to embrace emerging technologies but to ensure that they serve humanity, promote inclusive growth, expand equal opportunities and empower citizens.
The third plenary was on Cooperation: Leveraging Parliamentary cooperation for a more representative global governance architecture.
On the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026, Mr Birla today held bilateral meetings with the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE, Mr Saqr Ghobash; Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China, Mr Zheng Jianbang; and a member of the Praesidium of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mr Ahmed Naderi.
During the meeting between Om Birla and the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE, Saqr Ghobash, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the historic bonds of friendship between India and the UAE through enhanced parliamentary cooperation, regular dialogue and exchanges of parliamentary delegations. They also exchanged views on regional developments and underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting peace and stability.
During the meeting between Om Birla and Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China, Zheng Jianbang, the two leaders discussed strengthening India-China relations through parliamentary exchanges, regular dialogue and cooperation in areas such as education, healthcare and technology. Mr Birla emphasised that, as neighbours, these two countries have a shared responsibility to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border and resolve differences amicably through dialogue and mutual respect.
During his meeting with the Member of the Praesidium of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Ahmed Naderi, Mr Birla emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the region for the welfare of humanity and highlighted the role of parliamentary dialogue and bilateral engagements in advancing these shared objectives. The two sides also discussed taking forward Chabahar Port cooperation through joint efforts. Mr. Naderi expressed gratitude for the medicines, assistance and other support extended by India to Iran.
[AIR News]