BRICS New Delhi

NEW DELHI — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan today held bilateral meetings with his Russian and Indian counterparts on the sidelines of the second day of the 2026 BRICS Partners’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here.

At the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, both sides discussed Malaysia-Russia bilateral ties and recent developments in the Middle East, including the need for all parties to prioritise dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation efforts to preserve regional peace and stability.

“Malaysia values its strong relationship with the Russian Federation and remains committed to strengthening cooperation across various sectors for mutual benefit,” Mohamad posted on Facebook.

Meanwhile, during the meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the two leaders exchanged views on enhancing cooperation within the BRICS framework, Malaysia-India bilateral relations, and regional and international issues.

“The meeting also reflected both countries’ commitment to further strengthening strategic cooperation for mutual benefit,” Mohamad said.

The 2026 BRICS Partners’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting brought together ministers and representatives from BRICS member states and partner countries to discuss global geopolitical developments, economic cooperation and issues affecting countries of the Global South. — BERNAMA

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NEW DELHI — Countries are not losing interest in joining BRICS, despite Western pressure, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

“I do not see a decline in interest in BRICS as a result of pressure from Western countries, which, especially the United States (US), have publicly declared BRICS to be almost the main opponent of progress,” Lavrov said following his visit to India and participation in the BRICS ministerial meeting.

Several countries have applied to join BRICS, Lavrov added.

“I do not see a decrease in the interest in joining the ranks of our association, both in terms of membership and in terms of joining the group of partner countries,” Lavrov added.

BRICS countries stand against any attempts to politicise the G20 agenda, the Russian foreign minister added.

“Let me remind you that BRICS and its partner countries currently account for over 40 per cent of global GDP, while the G7 barely exceeds 30 per cent of global GDP. Therefore, a reform is overdue, a reform that our Western colleagues are trying to hold back in every possible way. Forecasts show that the average growth rate of BRICS countries will be around 3.7 per cent, closer to four per cent, compared to 2.6 per cent for the global growth rate in the coming period,” Lavrov said.

The top Russian diplomat also said that he had briefed his BRICS counterparts on the situation in Ukraine, emphasising that BRICS had “made a fundamental assessment of what is happening.”

The final statement on the outcomes of the BRICS meeting will come from India as the current chair of the group, Lavrov added. — BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI 

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NEW DELHI — BRICS members and partner countries must work collectively to address global challenges and shape a more democratic, representative and equitable international order, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said.

Speaking at the BRICS Partners’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026 here today, he said the call for greater cooperation comes amid growing concerns over the effectiveness of existing global governance structures in dealing with today’s increasingly complex and multipolar world.

“The world today is more interconnected, complex and multipolar than when many of our current institutions were created, yet the structures that underpin global governance have not kept pace with these changes,” he said.

Jaishankar said multilateral frameworks are facing mounting pressure due to declining trust and inefficiencies in decision-making, adding that BRICS nations and partner countries share a responsibility to push for a more inclusive, representative and responsive global governance architecture.

“Reform is therefore not a matter of choice but of necessity. It is essential that multilateralism remains relevant and effective in addressing contemporary challenges,” he said.

Jaishankar also called for the reform of the United Nations and its subsidiary bodies in line with the significant expansion of the organisation’s membership and responsibilities.

“Yet, key structures, particularly the Security Council, continue to reflect an earlier era without meaningful reform, including expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories. 

“The effectiveness and credibility of the UN will remain constrained. Representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America is essential,” he said.

The two-day BRICS Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting, beginning yesterday, is one of the key preparatory platforms ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit scheduled for Sept 12 to 13 this year.

India officially assumed the BRICS chairmanship on Jan 1 this year, taking over from Brazil, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, anchoring on the overarching framework of “Humanity First”. — BERNAMA

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NEW DELHI — Malaysia has called for urgent reforms to the global governance and multilateral system, warning that the current framework is no longer sustainable in addressing mounting global challenges affecting developing nations.

Speaking during the BRICS Partners’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here today, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the existing global governance system was “creaking under the weight of humanity’s most pressing worries”, including widening inequalities, unsustainable debt burdens, climate crises and unilateral trade measures.

He said these challenges had significantly eroded trust in multilateralism and international cooperation over the years.

“Deepening inequalities, unsustainable debt, climate crises, and unilateral trade measures have eroded trust in multilateralism and international cooperation over many years. But now it has reached a point that is simply unworkable,” he said. 

He noted that countries in the Global South had long faced significant gaps in representation, access and influence within the international system.

Nevertheless, Mohamad said multilateralism remained the bedrock of global governance and was crucial in ensuring a rules-based international system where all nations, regardless of size or power, were accorded a fair voice.

“We have seen what a world looks like, which is driven by power rather than by rules. Developing and smaller nations have been left vulnerable to exploitation, exclusion, and isolation,” he said.

He said that without meaningful reform, the deficit in trust and hope would continue to widen, particularly in relation to the global financial architecture and debt crisis, as current international financial structures were outdated and failed to account for the unique circumstances faced by developing countries.

“The Bretton Woods institution is still based on gross GDP (domestic product) quotas and is therefore out of step with its own methodology,” he said.

The Bretton Woods institutions, namely the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, are major international financial organisations established at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference to promote global financial stability and development.

Commenting further, Mohamad said the COVID-19 pandemic and other interconnected global challenges had worsened the debt crisis, with nearly 40 per cent of developing countries facing severe debt-related problems.

“About 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on essential services like healthcare and education,” he noted.

The minister said the growing debt burden continued to hinder developing countries from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and left them vulnerable to global economic shocks.

Therefore, he said there was an urgent need for a more equitable financial system, including effective debt relief and restructuring mechanisms to ensure countries had sufficient liquidity to respond to crises and invest in sustainable development.

The two-day meeting, which started yesterday, serves as an important preparatory platform ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit later in 2026. 

Malaysia’s participation allows it to contribute early to discussions on issues affecting developing economies, including supply chain stability, access to financing and technology, and the broader impact of global disruptions on economic growth and development. –BERNAMA

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NEW DELHI — Malaysia believes that trade remains a key driver of development and increasing South-South trade should be further harnessed, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.

“Efforts must be made to integrate developing nations into global value chains and promote long-term sustainable growth,” he said at the BRICS Partners’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026 here today.

The current global environment, marked by protectionism and industrial policy, underscores the need for a flexible and fair global trading system, he said.

”A system that is grounded in internationally agreed and enforceable rules, including those under the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” he said.

The minister said mounting global challenges had exposed the limitations of the existing international system, which he described as no longer sufficient or sustainable.

Therefore, he said urgent reforms are needed to strengthen the multilateral system, and global institutions must become more inclusive, equitable and trustworthy in addressing current economic and geopolitical challenges.

He also said reform should not be viewed as abandoning multilateralism but rather as an effort to improve it through collective action and stronger cooperation.

“Reform is not about dismantling what we have or walking away from multilateralism. It is about making it work better with urgency and wisdom,” he said.

Mohamad said Malaysia believed that meaningful reform must be guided by three fundamental principles, namely inclusivity, equity and trust.

Explaining further, he said inclusivity means every nation must have a seat at the table, equity means the benefits of globalisation must be shared more fairly, and trust refers to respect for rules and the upholding of commitments.

Without these principles, no international system can maintain legitimacy.

Nevertheless, Mohamad said he is confident that meaningful change could be achieved through clarity of purpose and political will, albeit the road ahead would be challenging.

“Though the path ahead is arduous, change is possible, especially when there is clarity of purpose and a willingness to act. This is where BRICS can make a difference, not as an alternative, but as a catalyst for meaningful reform,” he said.

He said Malaysia is ready to work closely with all partners, particularly through the BRICS platform, to strengthen a resilient and sustainable multilateral system that benefits all nations.

The meeting brings together ministers and representatives of BRICS member countries and partners to discuss global geopolitical developments, economic cooperation and issues involving countries of the Global South. — BERNAMA

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