China wants 'BRICS plus' to include 'friendly' countries, plan might hurt India's interests

[Tshering22]

Mexico and Sri Lanka are most welcome.

I really don't see how they'd be a problem.

Only if you see from economic point of view, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand and Kenya make more sense.

 

[ashok321]

Can't divulge what PM Modi will speak at BRICS summit: India:

 

[Hindustani78]

NEW DELHI, September 01, 2017 21:38 IST
Updated: September 01, 2017 21:38 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-sign-4-pacts-at-brics-summit/article19604215.ece

A week after the end of Doklam standoff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen, China, to address the BRICS summit, where he is likely to take up regional and global issues. The External Affairs Ministry has said India will sign four BRICS-level agreements during the summit which will be followed by Mr. Modi’s three-day visit to Myanmar.

“Discussions during the restricted session of BRICS will focus on global economic issues, national security, and development-related issues which will be followed by a plenary session when leaders will discuss practical cooperation and cultural exchanges,” said Raveesh Kumar, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson.

The spokesperson, however, refused to confirm if a bilateral meeting would take place between Mr. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit and indicated that details are still sketchy at this stage.

The summit at Xiamen will also include Thailand, Mexico, Egypt, Guinea and Tajikistan as China has invited them to participate in the summit as ‘guests’. India had similarly invited countries from the Bay of Bengal region during last year’s BRICS summit at Goa.

Officials also set the backdrop of Mr. Modi’s first bilateral visit to Myanmar which will begin on September 5 and said that the ongoing violence in the Rakhine province of Myanmar is of “great concern” to India.

“The issue of Rakhine State is a matter of great concern to us. There has been a particularly prominent attack in which large number of people have lost their lives and we have reached out to the Government of Myanmar to see what is state of play and what can be done,” said Sripriya Ranganathan, Joint Secretary in charge of India-Myanmar ties in the MEA.

The issue of Rohingya refugees, who are facing the brunt of Myanmar’s ongoing security campaign, is of significance due to the reports that India is considering possible repatriation of those Rohingya who took refuge here. Regarding the Rohingya refugees, Ms. Ranganathan said, “As far as illegal immigrants are concerned, we have had a position. Every country that is impacted by it [Rohingya influx] has been talking about it but it is up to Myanmar how to go about solving it,” she said, emphasising the need for political stability as a factor in drawing Indian investments into the country.

“We have been trying to encourage the Myanmar government to stimulate some socio-economic development of the area since many problems will reduce, if not disappear, if development happens,” she said, suggesting a way out to solve the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State where India has investments in the infrastructure sector.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
18-May, 2018 18:25 IST
India Calls for Judicious Use of Resources at 4th Brics Ministerial Meeting in Durban

Dr Harsh Vardhan Reiterates India’s Commitment to Build Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions

India has called for a judicious use of resources amidst concerns over resource depletion and scarcity. Addressing the 4th BRICS Ministerial meeting in Durban, South Africa today, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said that a decrease in global materials, or at least stabilization at present levels, demand major reductions in metabolic rates in the Asia-Pacific region, especially India. He pointed out that this can become possible only through Resource Efficiency (RE) not only throughout the material life cycle, but also at the post-consumption stage. The Minister added that secondary resources (waste materials) need to be brought back into production, adopting a Circular Economy (CE) approach. Dr. Harsh Vardhan emphasised that Resource Efficiency (RE) and Circular Economy (CE) are key elements of Sustainable Development and impact resource efficiency and that is why there is a global commitment to achieve it.

Reiterating India’s commitment to building responsive, inclusive and collective solutions, Dr. Harsh Vardhan underlined that BRICS nations face similar environmental concerns such as air pollution, waste management, resource crunch and climate change. “BRICS countries should together emphasize on the cooperation in air pollution control through technology transfer and requisite capacity building”, Dr. Vardhan said. He urged BRICS nations to commit to cooperation and collaboration on technology transfer, capacity building and knowledge transfer at the country, regional and global levels. “BRICS countries can complement, facilitate access to and provide adequate information on existing science, technology and innovation platforms, avoiding duplications and enhancing synergies,” he averred. The Minister added that India will be pleased to contribute and provide further recommendations to the BRICS Environment Working Group on the modalities of Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability Initiative (PUESI). Dr. Vardhan expressed the confidence that the proposals on BRICS Environmentally Sound Technology (BEST) platform, clean river umbrella, circular economy, ocean economy, biodiversity and integrated water resources management will further strengthen the cooperation for sustainable development.

Outlining the contours of the Green Good Deeds movement in India, Dr. Vardhan said, “We are asking people to alter their behaviour to Green Good behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility”. He urged the BRICS countries to jointly help in the development of a social movement that can be emulated by the rest of the world.

Minister of Water and Environment Affairs, South Africa, Ms. Bomo Edith Edna Molewa, Vice-Minister for Environment, Energy, Science and Technology of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, Mr J. Antonio Marcondes, DG, International Cooperation Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, Mr. Nuritdin Imanov, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Environment, China, Mr. Huang Runqiu and representative of United Nations Environment (UNEP), Mr. Jorge Laguna-Celis were among the distinguished ones present on the occasion.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
19-May, 2018 10:18 IST
Dr Harsh Vardhan’s ‘Green Good Deeds’ gets global recognition

Green Good Deeds to be in the official agenda of BRICS Ministerial on Environment in Brazil and Russsia

Green Good Deeds, the societal movement launched by Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to protect environment and promote good living has found acceptance by the global community. Dr Harsh Vardan at the ongoing 4th BRICS Environment Ministerial in Durban, South Africa had urged the BRICS nations to jointly help in development of a social movement to fight for the protection and conservation of environment.

The BRICS Ministerial on Environment has agreed to include “Green Good Deeds” in its official agenda in the next Ministerial in Brazil and another meeting in Russia said Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Earlier in his opening remarks at the Ministerial, Dr Harsh Vardhan had urged the grouping to jointly work for developing a movement around Green Good Deeds.

“I urge upon the BRICS countries to jointly help in development of a social movement which could be emulated by the rest of the world,” Dr Harsh Vardhan told the ministerial delegations from the 5-nation grouping.

There was wide acceptance to the suggestion and UN Environment Programme representative at the conclave Jorge Laguna Celis, acting Deputy Executive Director lauded the initiative.

“In India, we are trying to develop a societal movement of Green Good Deeds, which are small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection,” Dr HarshVardhan told.

The minister had launched a nationwide social movement to protect the environment and promote healthy living. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds and asked people to alter their behaviour to Green Good Behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility. These small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection, were put on a mobile application named “Dr Harsh Vardhan App”.

Reacting to the adoption of Green Good Deeds by BRICS Ministerial on Environment, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, international conferences on Environment had been deliberating and adopting declarations. But he wondered how these declarations could be put to practice at the ground level, involving every section of the society. “Green Good Deeds” is an idea to take it to the people and get them involved,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The minister had formally launched the nation-wide campaign in January 2018. He enlisted the cooperation of thousands of people – students, teachers, voluntary organisations, Residents Welfare Associations, professionals to adopt these deeds.

***

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

20-May, 2018 20:45 IST

“Response of Developed Nations in Combating Climate Change Inadequate”: Dr Harsh Vardhan

Environment Minister’s Intervention at the 26th basic Ministerial meeting of Environment Ministers in Durban

India has said that the response of developed nations for greater action in combating climate change is inadequate. Makingan intervention at the 26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting of Environment Ministers in Durban today, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the world is at a critical stage in combating climate change.

“We are at a very critical stage, both in our efforts to combat climate change and in the negotiations. There is an evident need for greater action and we find that the response of the developed countries is still not adequate,” Dr Harsh Vardhan pointed out. The Minister urged the developed countries need to take a leadership role in terms of mitigation and providing means of implementation to developing countries. “While we talk about our actions, it is equally important to emphasise that the ambition of the developing countries needs to be supported and sustained, predictable and adequate finance, technology and capacity-building support to be provided by the developed countries,” Dr Harsh Vardhan added.

The Minister told his counterparts from BASIC countries and Mr. Michal Kurtyka of Poland, who will take over as next COP 24 parties, that India has shown the vision and the political will to act. He said that the Prime Minister, ShriNarendraModi’s vision is to ensure sustainable development, while protecting the most vulnerable from the effects of climate change. Later, addressing a press conference, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the BASIC group has decided to preserve the integrity of Paris Agreement, including the principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Equity.

Dr Harsh Vardhan reiterated his appeal to make joint efforts to create a societal movement in combating climate change through “Green Good Deeds”.

The Basic countries isa bloc of four countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China, formed by an agreement on November 28, 2009. The four committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen climate summit.

***

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet
12-September, 2018 16:29 IST
Cabinet approves MoU on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block Chain Technology in the context of Development of digital economy by Exim Bank under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in the context of Development of digital economy by Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) with the participating member banks, under the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism namely Banco Nacional de DesenvolvimentoEconomico e Social (BNDES, of Brazil), China Development Bank (CDB), State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank, of Russia) and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

Major Impact

Distributed Ledger/Block chain technology holds potential for solutions to various challenges being faced in the financial sector space of the BRICS nations. The MoU intends to enhance understanding of Distributed Ledger/Block Chain technology, through the joint research efforts to identify areas within respective business operations where it may have the potential for applications aimed at enhancing the operational efficiencies.

Background:

The Xiamen Declaration signed in China on digital economy by the BRICS leaders had highlighted the importance of the digital economy and how the BRICS nations could leverage the thriving and dynamic digital economy that will foster global economic development and benefit everyone. Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in the Context of the Development of the Digital Economy was suggested to be inked by all member banks.

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