NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday called for greater dialogue, trust and cooperation among nations to address global conflicts, regional instability and economic uncertainty, saying lasting peace must guarantee security, dignity and justice for all.
Delivering the valedictory address at the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan, Birla said the international community, particularly younger generations, expects a safer, more peaceful and prosperous world. “The future generations will judge us by how safe, peaceful and prosperous a world we have created for them,” he said and stressed that the present generation has a responsibility to address current challenges while laying the foundation for a better future.
The two-day forum concluded with the unanimous adoption of a joint declaration, reaffirming the participating countries’ commitment to strengthening parliamentary cooperation and advancing shared objectives under the four themes of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Birla, who chaired the forum, proposed the adoption of the declaration before handing over the chairship for 2027 to China.
Highlighting the importance of collective action amid growing global uncertainty, Birla said differences among BRICS nations should not undermine their shared commitment to human welfare, peace and prosperity.
“Our views may differ. Our opinions may also vary. Our circumstances and challenges might be different as well. However, our commitment towards the welfare of humanity, peace and prosperity remains uniform. This is the greatest strength of BRICS,” he said.
“It has been India's firm belief that the permanent solution to the world's problems lies not in conflict, but in dialogue; not in war, but in peace. And more in cooperation than in competition,” Birla said.
The Speaker called on BRICS countries to respect the sovereignty of all nations, resolve international disputes peacefully and ensure equitable opportunities for development.
The declaration also condemned all acts of terrorism and called for coordinated and concrete action against terrorists and terrorist organisations.
Emphasising the role of legislatures in strengthening democratic governance, Birla said Parliament was not merely a lawmaking institution but also a forum for dialogue, consensus, accountability and public trust.
“Despite considerable diversity within our parliamentary systems, safeguarding the interests of our citizens and winning the trust of the public is our shared responsibility,” he said, calling for parliaments to become more effective, transparent and citizen-centric.
“The use of artificial intelligence must be based on the principles of ethics, transparency, accountability and human welfare,” he said, urging parliaments to share experiences and best practices on responsible technology adoption.
Birla further stressed that BRICS cooperation should deliver benefits beyond member countries, with the aspirations of the Global South receiving due consideration in global decision-making.
The forum began on Monday under the theme Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development, bringing together parliamentary representatives to discuss common challenges and avenues for future cooperation.