'No place for double standards on matters of counter-terrorism and terror-financing': PM Narendra Modi urges BRICS countries to unite

MOSCOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged BRICS countries to unite to combat terrorism and not to have double standards on the matter. He was addressing the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

"India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war. In order to counter terrorism and terror-financing, we need the single-minded and firm support of all... there is no place for double standards on this serious matter. We need to take active steps to stop radicalisation of youth in our countries. BRICS is emerging as an important platform for dialogue and discussion of global challenges," Modi said.

Highlighting the achievements of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), he pointed out the reach of UPI services in countries including the UAE.

Modi welcomed the new members of BRICS. He also congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin for hosting the summit beautifully and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who will take over as the next president of BRICS.

Economic cooperation will be strengthened

(What Modi said at BRICS)

• Over the past 10 years, the New Development Bank (formed in 2014 with the aim of providing financial assistance to the development activities of BRICS countries) has become the main option for the development needs of the Global South countries.
• With the expansion, BRICS has emerged as an economy of more than $30 trillion.
• The BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women Business Alliance have played a special role in enhancing economic cooperation.
• Happy to start the BRICS Startup Forum this year, which was proposed while India was chairing in 2021.
• The Railway Research Network Initiative introduced by India also plays a key role in enhancing logistics and supply chain connectivity between BRICS countries
• Efforts to increase economic integration among BRICS countries are welcomed.
• Transactions of local currencies and smooth cross-border transactions will strengthen our economic cooperation