Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned global leaders against the “weaponisation of technology and critical minerals”, warning that such practices could undermine global efforts towards shared progress, inclusive development and prosperity.
Sitting beside Chinese President Xi Jinping on the second day of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Modi also highlighted lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and stressed the need for greater resilience in an increasingly interconnected world.
Delivering his closing remarks at the summit, the Prime Minister said the grouping now brings together different continents, cultures and development journeys, reflecting the growing strength and confidence of BRICS.
Referring to the summit theme, “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”, Modi said India, with the support of member states, had worked to translate the shared vision into “win-win collaboration”.
On growing global conflicts and tensions, he said the consequences were being felt by ordinary people.
“Today, the global tensions are increasing, which is negatively affecting the common man. Pandemics, climate change disasters and supply chain disruptions have shown that in the current interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region,” Modi said.
He said BRICS had therefore placed special emphasis on strengthening resilience within the grouping.
The Prime Minister said the BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework would help make global supply chains more reliable and resilient.
On innovation, Modi said the BRICS Incubator Network would connect startups and incubators across member states. He also said India had proposed the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to promote innovative and scalable solutions.
He further highlighted the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, saying it would create new opportunities for farmers by aligning artificial intelligence, geospatial technology and digital public infrastructure with their actual needs.
“The weaponisation of technology and critical minerals can create hurdles for common growth. Therefore, we have emphasised inclusivity in the adoption of technology,” he said.
Modi also stressed the importance of identifying emerging challenges quickly, remaining prepared and taking immediate action.
He announced an early warning system for infectious diseases along with new guidelines for disaster management.
“A consensus has been reached on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases. Additionally, Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines have been formulated for disaster management,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India had sought to advance the spirit of friendship, partnership and cooperation through BRICS.
“We have made efforts to ensure that BRICS cooperation is not limited to governments alone. We want our entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth, and ordinary citizens to become active participants as well,” Modi said.