Lok Sabha Question No. 208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: BRICS and BIMSTEC Summits
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA, SUDHEER GUPTA, Dr. BHOLA SINGH, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, BALKA SUMAN, P. KARUNAKARAN, E. AHAMED, KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS, C. N. JAYADEVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, BHARATENDRA SINGH, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.208 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## BRICS & BIMSTEC SUMMITS

## 208.      SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPABARNE:

SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

DR. BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN:

SHRI E. AHAMED:

SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of issues discussed, points raised and Agreements/MoUs signed during and on the sidelines of BRICS and  BIMSTEC  Summit  held  in  Goa  among  the  host  and participating countries;
- (b) the benefits likely to accrue to developing countries in general and to India in particular in the field of finance and trade and other areas as a result of these summits;
- (c) the  details  of  other  steps  taken  to  enhance  co-operation amongst BRICS and BIMSTEC nations; and
- (d) whether the issue of cross border terrorism could not figure in the joint declaration of both the summits and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) BRICS:  The  8th  BRICS  Summit  was  held  in  Goa  on  15-16 October 2016.  The agenda of the Summit included Global Political Situation and Terrorism, Global Economic Situation, Global Economic  Growth,  Global  Governance,  BRICS  and  the  Emerging Market  Economies,  Climate  Change  and  Sustainable  Development Goals (SDGs), and BRICS Cooperation.

The  theme  of  the  BRICS  Leaders'  Working  Luncheon  was 'BRICS - Promoting People-to-People Exchanges.'

The  BRICS  Leaders'  Plenary  Session  was  on  'BRICS  Agenda for Cooperation: The Way Forward.'

The outcomes of the Summit included the Goa Declaration in which  strong  sentiments  were  expressed  by  BRICS  Leaders  on Terrorism.  Other  elements  of  Goa  Declaration  were  (i)  BRICS Economic Cooperation, including New Development Bank (NDB) and Contingent  Reserve  Arrangement  (CRA);  (ii)  BRICS  Cooperation  in Customs,  Taxation,  Anti-Corruption,  Anti-Drug,  Telecommunication, Information  and  Communication  Technology  (ICT),  Energy,  Health, Labour and Employment, Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Disaster Management, Environment and Climate Change,  Tourism,  Railways,  Sports,  etc.;  (iii)  Setting  up  of  BRICS Rating Agency; (iv) Global Economic Situation and Growth Prospects; (v) IMF Reforms; (vi) World Trade Organisation (WTO) and need to advance negotiations on the remaining Doha Development Agenda issues; (vii) BRICS cooperation within G20; (viii) Sustainable Development  Goals  (SDGs);  (ix)  Comprehensive  Reforms  of  the United  Nations,  including  the  Security  Council;  Peacekeeping;  (x) Situation in the Middle East and North Africa; (xi) Security Challenges in Afghanistan;  and  (xii)  Peaceful  Exploration  of  Space and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Outer Space Activities.

In addition, the Memorandum of Understanding for Establishing of BRICS Agriculture Research Platform, the Memorandum  of  Understanding  on  Mutual  Cooperation  between Diplomatic  Academies  of  BRICS  countries,  Regulations  on  the Customs Cooperation Committee of BRICS countries and Memorandum of Understanding amongst BRICS Development Banks and  New  Development  Bank  (NDB)  on  General  Cooperation  were signed during the Summit.

BIMSTEC:  Leaders  of  BIMSTEC  Countries  were  the  special invitees  at  the  Goa  BRICS  Summit  under  its  customary  Outreach Initiative. Prior to the BRICS-BIMSTEC  Outreach Summit, the BIMSTEC Leaders met in a Retreat format. The BIMSTEC Leaders' Retreat  was  held  in  an  informal  setting,  without  aides  or  a  fixed agenda. Leaders felt that BIMSTEC as a regional grouping had so far not  realized  its  potential  since  its  establishment  in  1997.  They unanimously agreed to rejuvenate BIMSTEC.

The  BIMSTEC  Leaders  deliberated  on Terrorism, Climate Change and Environment, Disaster Management, Connectivity, Agriculture  and  Food  Security,  Fisheries,  Blue  Economy,  Energy, Trade, Technology, Tourism, Culture, etc. Subsequent to the BIMSTEC  Leaders'  Retreat,  an  Outcome  Document  capturing  the deliberations of the meeting was released.

BRICS-BIMSTEC:  During the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit, Leaders appreciated India's initiative and the opportunity to interact  between  the  two  groupings  of  emerging  economies  and developing  countries,  which  together  represent  half  the  world's population.  They highlighted the potential for cooperation in areas such  as  counter  terrorism,  trade,  energy,  investment  and  capital flows, environment, technology, infrastructure and human development  as  well  as  funding  by  the  BRICS  New  Development Bank for BIMSTEC projects.

- (b) All  members  of  BRICS  grouping  benefit  from  its  collective strength by way of consultation and cooperation on economic issues of  mutual  interests,  as  well  as  topical  global  issues,  such  as, international  terrorism,  climate  change,  food  and  energy  security, reforms of global governance institutions, etc.

The New Development Bank has come into existence with the vision  of  mobilizing  resources  for  infrastructure  and  sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, to supplement the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. The NDB will help India and other member countries to raise and avail resources for their infrastructure and sustainable development projects. The NDB has approved its first set of loans, which  included  a  loan  of  US$  250  million  in  respect  of  India  for 'Multitranche  Financing  Facility  to  Canara  Bank  for  Renewable Energy Financing Scheme'.

In  the  Goa  Declaration  it  is  stated  that  BRICS  countries represent an influential  voice  on the global  stage  through  tangible cooperation, which delivers direct benefits to our people. (c) The  organisation  of  BRICS-BIMSTEC  Outreach  Summit  was meant to enhance cooperation amongst BRICS and BIMSTEC nations in potential areas as mentioned in (a) above. (d) There is a comprehensive message by BRICS Leaders in the Goa Declaration on Counter-Terrorism, including on 'the responsibility  of  all  states  to  prevent  terrorist  activities  from  their territories.' Similarly  the  Outcome  Document  of  BIMSTEC  Summit  also dwelt  at  length  on  counter-terrorism.  The  text  focused  on  state sponsored  terrorism,  condemned  States  that  promote  terror  and give sanctuary to terrorists, called for their isolation and to be held accountable for their action. It also stated that there should be no glorification of terrorists as martyrs.

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