Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has urged the parliaments of BRICS member and partner countries to translate dialogue into concrete outcomes, strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that the priorities of developing nations shape global policymaking.
Addressing the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex on Monday, Birla said the grouping's success would depend on converting shared commitments into tangible improvements in people's lives. He cited the unanimous adoption of the joint statement at the BRICS Summit of Heads of State in New Delhi under India's chairship as a significant achievement, but stressed that implementation remained a challenge.
“The true measure of BRICS success lies in translating dialogue into tangible outcomes,” Birla said, highlighting the role of legislatures in achieving this through lawmaking, budgetary processes, deliberations and oversight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met parliamentary delegations during the event.
The two-day forum, themed “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development”, is focusing on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Birla calls for dialogue amid global tensions
Birla said regional conflicts, wars, economic instability, trade tensions, terrorism and climate change were creating consequences that extended beyond national borders. He stressed that dialogue, diplomacy and international cooperation were essential to addressing these challenges.
“Parliaments can foster mutual trust, bridge differences and advance peaceful resolution of global challenges,” he said.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also called for a stronger voice for the Global South in international decision-making. He said the concerns of developing countries must move beyond declarations and translate into responsive policies, practical cooperation and measures that improve citizens' lives.
Birla urged parliaments to strengthen legislative frameworks, accountability and oversight to ensure that democratic institutions remained effective during periods of disruption. He also emphasised that economic growth and environmental protection were complementary objectives rather than competing priorities.
Youth empowerment and people-centric development
Birla called on BRICS legislatures to create meaningful opportunities for young people and channel their creativity, technological skills and aspirations into nation-building.
Referring to Modi's vision of transforming BRICS into an “ecosystem of solutions”, the Speaker said the forum's effectiveness should be judged by the results it delivered rather than the breadth of discussions it hosted.
He urged participating parliaments to ensure that their deliberations produced practical outcomes that addressed people's needs and strengthened cooperation among member and partner countries.
Birla holds bilateral meeting with Russian delegation
Ahead of the forum, Birla held a bilateral meeting on Sunday with a Russian parliamentary delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly.
The two sides discussed cooperation at global forums, efforts to combat terrorism and ways to deepen parliamentary engagement between the two countries.
The discussions came as BRICS seeks to strengthen cooperation among its members and partners amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Birla's address underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in building mutual trust, improving coordination and ensuring that international commitments deliver tangible benefits for citizens.