BRICS musing at Goa
- By Niranjan Sahoo
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 17, 2016
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Jacob Zuma, Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and representative of Thailand pose for photo at a dialogue between BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) leaders on emerging economy cooperation in the western Indian state of Goa, Oct. 16, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) |
Known for its exotic beaches, flora and fauna and numerous heritage sights and cultural richness, Goa is a place not to be missed. A favourite hunting ground for international tourists, for its sun and sand, fun-filled nightlife and laid-back atmosphere, for a change Goa is getting ready to transact serious business of hosting 8th BRICS summit.
A powerful grouping of five large emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS's 8th summit at Goa comes at a very critical time when the world struggle to build a solution and build common ground on host of issues mainly on trade, climate change, migration crisis and economic renewal and most importantly the solution to never ending conflict in Syria. The summit also assumes importance for host of new initiatives to be inked within BRICS's existing menu.
Other than the powerful presence of Xi Jinping, president of China, Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, Michel Temer, president of Brazil, and Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa, the Goa Summit witnessed the participation of more than 250 dignitaries invited from across the globe.
Issues on the table
While witnessing Goa's exotic beaches from the tarmac of famous Taj Exotica and salivating Goa's rich cuisines, BRICS leaders have plenty of issues at hand. While the host country has identified three key themes for the meeting; counter-terrorism, cyber security and energy security, the group can hardly wish away many pressing global issues such as Syrian conflict, Brexit, climate change, trade barriers and issues concerning South-South cooperation.
Furthermore, the meet is likely to take up development related issues with a decision to set up their own credit-rating agency. Similarly, there is plan to set up a think tank to shape international dialogues. There are also issues such as visa restrictions ease, funding for infrastructure, etc. Of course, the informal meeting of BRICS leaders in the side line of G20 meeting at Hangzhou had zeroed down on the key agenda for Goa summit.
Yet, as the host country, India is making every effort to bring up issues of cross-border terrorism to the center-stage of this important meet. As the border escalation between India and Pakistan reaches its break point and tensions are rising between two nuclear armed neighbors on the issue of cross-border terrorism, many analysts feel Goa summit would be a major casualty. Indo-Pak standoff would take away most sheen out of this important multilateral meeting. Yet, those who have been following BRICS meetings for years would know that BRICS has enough depth and resilience to weather such challenges. From setting up ambitious New Development Bank, offering an alternative narrative to International Monetary Fund to the possible setting up of a new global rating agency to challenge the domination of West backed Moody's and Fitch, BRICS has come a long way. And the host India knows well that it cannot push its bilateral matters beyond a point.
BRICS-BIMSTEC symphony
The real flavor of Goa meet lies in creating a conversation between globalism and regionalism. This is best illustrated in planned BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or BIMSTEC, consisting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, is taking serious traction in the last few years. With major push coming from smaller members particularly Bangladesh and Thailand, BIMSTEC opens up limitless opportunities for these countries to thicken their trade and commercial relations. There are numerous points of convergence between these two groups. More importantly, by agreeing to accommodate another sub-regional summit within its two-day meet, BRICS has shown its dynamism and inclusive vision.
On the whole, Goa summit is set to take BRICS to new heights and towards a new horizon. The beauty of this group lies in its ability to anchor new narratives despite huge diversity and divergences among its members.
Niranjan Sahoo is Senior Fellow with Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi.
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