The Brics Parliamentary Forum to be hosted by India next week will discuss pressing global challenges, the ethical use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and cooperation for capacity building of lawmakers, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday.
The Lok Sabha has also set up parliamentary friendship groups with the parliaments of 64 countries and groupings, such as the European Union, and Baltic and Nordic states. “India has emerged as the voice of the Global South and developing countries. Besides the main sessions, there will be other sessions that will facilitate interactions between parliamentarians of Brics member states and partners countries, including members of parliamentary foreign affairs committees of several nations. Among those expected to attend the forum are Iran’s Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a key negotiator for Tehran on issues related to the West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz, the Russian Speaker and a vice chairperson of China’s National People’s Congress.
It has taken the lead in getting others to listen to the views of these countries and given priority to their concerns and issues,” he said, noting that trade deals firmed up by the government with several countries have also had a good impact. Birla said he will also hold bilateral meetings with the representatives of Brics states and partner countries. These exchanges will facilitate the exchange of ideas on key global challenges and help build bridges between Indian parliamentarians and their counterparts from various countries, he said. These groups have played a key role in bilateral ties, including when India sent groups of parliamentarians around the world last year to explain its reasons for conducting Operation Sindoor, Birla said.
