New Delhi Hosts 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum with Delegations from 21 Nations

Delegations representing 11 member countries and 10 partner nations of BRICS have arrived in New Delhi to participate in the two-day 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. The Parliament of India is hosting the high-level multilateral event at the Parliament House complex.

Lok Sabha Speaker and Chairman of the Forum, Om Birla, delivered the inaugural address following the opening ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet with visiting Speakers and Heads of Delegations later in the day.

The conference is being held under the theme 'Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development.' The agenda includes four thematic high-level sessions focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. Discussions will cover institutional capacity building, sustainable development goals, and the expanding role of legislative oversight in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies.

Additionally, a special meeting of the Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees on International Affairs will be convened on the sidelines of the plenary sessions. This session will address parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building, and the exchange of best legislative practices. Delegates will also participate in structured bilateral and multilateral dialogues.

Ahead of the forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a bilateral meeting with a Russian parliamentary delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma. Both sides discussed strengthening global cooperation, countering terrorism, and expanding bilateral ties in nuclear energy, industry, trade, and agriculture ahead of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.

Birla also held discussions with parliamentary delegations from Cuba, Egypt, and Belarus. The two-day forum will conclude on October 27 with the formal adoption of a Joint Statement, a valedictory address by Om Birla, and the ceremonial handover of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum chairmanship to China.

"Multilateral platforms like the BRICS Parliamentary Forum provide an important avenue for nations to align on economic priorities, technology governance, and cross-border cooperation. For businesses and entrepreneurs, strengthening diplomatic ties and digital collaboration frameworks across emerging markets often translates into improved regulatory alignment, easier trade access, and new opportunities for international expansion." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes