New Delhi. India is going to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26 and 27 October. The Indian Parliament will chair the forum on Monday and Tuesday in the Central Hall of the Constitution House, New Delhi. Speaker of the Parliament (State Duma) of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin has reached New Delhi to participate in the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. The forum, to be held under the chairmanship of India on October 26 and 27, will include parliamentary leaders from BRICS member countries and partner countries. Here issues like development based on people’s interests and strengthening parliamentary cooperation will be discussed.
Earlier this week, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had announced that the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be held at the Constitution House on October 26 and 27. In a press conference held at the Parliament House, Om Birla said that this forum is going to add a new chapter in the history of India’s parliamentary diplomacy. It will include Speakers of the Parliaments of BRICS member countries and partner countries, parliamentary leaders, Union Ministers, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Speakers of Legislative Assemblies of various states, MPs and other dignitaries.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also participate in the event and will meet the leaders of the delegations from different countries. He said that during the forum, there will also be bilateral and multilateral meetings with the leaders of the visiting delegations and parliamentary friendship groups. Additionally, there will be a meeting of secretaries of various delegations on October 25, in which the joint statement of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be finalised.
Om Birla said, “So far, suggestions have been received from 18 countries and discussions will be held on that basis. India has started a new initiative and formed parliamentary friendship groups with 64 countries. Such a comprehensive effort has been done for the first time. We are also expanding these groups in those countries where parliamentary friendship forums already exist between India and the respective countries.” Talking about the main theme of the program, Birla said that the central theme of the forum is ‘People-centric development. Parliaments will have to be strengthened. Under this theme it will be discussed how parliaments can play a bigger role in improving the lives of common people and making development more effective.