The final day of the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum reaffirmed the event’s commitment to international cooperation on strategic issues that affect all BRICS countries. This was the main focus of Thursday’s sessions (5), which addressed topics such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, interparliamentary cooperation, security, and peace. Together with the sessions held on the previous days, today’s discussions laid the groundwork for the Joint Declaration, unanimously adopted by the participating countries and presented at the forum’s closing, hosted at the National Congress in Brasília.

The forum, which began on Tuesday (3), brought together 195 members from 16 foreign delegations and the New Development Bank (NDB), also known as the BRICS Bank. The Brazilian delegation included 18 senators, among them the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, and 35 federal deputies, including the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta.

“The strong presence of legislative houses and parliamentarians from member states and partner countries demonstrates the vitality and appeal of the parliamentary dimension of BRICS. The consolidation of spaces like this Forum is a key step toward building an increasingly cohesive and influential parliamentary voice for our bloc on the global stage. Our future is promising,” said Davi Alcolumbre as he opened the event’s final session.

At the closing, Om Birla, Speaker of the Lower House of India’s Parliament, symbolically received the handover of the forum’s presidency. In 2026, India will assume the presidency of the bloc and, therefore, will host the next interparliamentary forum.

“BRICS has become a symbol of an inspiring journey and has grown in influence, amplifying the voice of the Global South and creating opportunities for new international structures in a democratic and inclusive manner, and in a way that clearly reflects contemporary realities,” said the Indian parliamentarian, who pledged future initiatives under his country’s leadership.

Joint Declaration

The Joint Declaration, the result of three days of discussions at the Forum, calls for an end to unilateral protectionist trade measures, a zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, and accountability for companies that develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The text comprises 36 paragraphs and addresses six topics considered priorities by BRICS parliamentarians under Brazil’s presidency.

The document is to be forwarded to the heads of state and government as a contribution to the 17th BRICS Summit, scheduled for July in Rio de Janeiro. Other key issues highlighted in the declaration include tackling climate change, promoting inclusive international cooperation in health, and strengthening the bloc.

“It is an important political message from the BRICS Parliamentary Forum to our heads of state and government, who will meet in Rio de Janeiro in early July, and to the international community as a whole. It is a clear message in favour of cooperation, multilateralism, inclusion, and sustainable development for all,” said Motta about the declaration.

In addition to the final declaration, the forum resulted in two other documents, drafted during the Meeting of Chairs of the Committees on Foreign Affairs of BRICS Parliaments and the BRICS Women Parliamentarians’ Meeting. Both events, which preceded the forum, were held on Tuesday (3).

Sustainability

Funding for developing countries and a stronger role for BRICS in international decision-making to promote sustainable development guided the speeches delivered during the forum’s third working session, held on Thursday morning, under the theme “BRICS Interparliamentary Dialogue on Climate and Sustainability.”

During the session, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of South Africa, Poobalan Govender, stated that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda require firm commitment from BRICS member states. These goals aim to achieve, by 2030, appropriate levels of poverty eradication, sustainable production, access to clean water, among others.

“Without our commitment and cooperation to reduce the impact of climate change, achieving the goals of the sustainability agenda will remain a distant dream. Climate change affects vulnerable populations, especially in developing countries that lack the resources to adapt to its impacts. We must ask ourselves: if we are so intelligent, why are we destroying the natural resources needed to sustain us and to ensure that future generations have a planet to live on?” asked the representative of South Africa’s upper house.

Artificial Intelligence

At the fourth working session, titled “Interparliamentary Cooperation for a Responsible and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence”, parliamentarians advocated for the development of AI that is ethical and grounded in principles of responsibility and transparency.

Representatives from Egypt, China, the United Arab Emirates, and India highlighted the dual nature of AI, which can serve as a driver of development but also pose risks if used without ethical standards. Sara Falaknaz, from the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, warned that poorly regulated technology could deepen inequalities.

“Realizing the potential of artificial intelligence requires more than innovation—it requires responsibility. Algorithms must be fair, data must be protected, and growth must be inclusive,” the parliamentarian stressed.

Security

The demand for a multilateral security system that ensures greater representation for developing countries was a key point of the fifth session of the Forum, titled “Reforming the Multilateral Architecture for Peace and Security“. During the session, parliamentarians criticized the fact that the UN Security Council comprises 15 member states, but only five of them hold permanent seats with veto power.

“We must ensure that the UN Security Council adapts to today’s multipolar reality, allowing countries of the Global South (…) to enjoy broader representation within this structure. They must be the pillar of an emerging global architecture,” said Russian Senator Grigory Karasin.

Interparliamentary Cooperation

The sixth and final working session focused on the theme “Towards a Stronger and More Enduring BRICS Interparliamentary Cooperation”. Parliamentarians from BRICS countries affirmed that national legislatures and international cooperation among them must serve to uphold, protect, and advance democracy around the world. Representatives from Brazil, South Africa, India, Cuba, Nigeria, Belarus, and Iran called for the expansion and deepening of cooperation within the BRICS framework.

“We need to protect democracy and our Constitutions (…) Only by strengthening democratic institutions will we be able to achieve meaningful change,” said Nigerian parliamentary Julius Ihonvbere, a member of the country’s Lower House.