St Petersburg

Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, highlighted the importance of enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation at the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Addressing the forum’s first plenary session themed The BRICS Parliamentary dimension: prospects for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, Birla emphasized that fostering stronger ties among parliaments would promote a more inclusive and democratic BRICS partnership.

He reaffirmed India’s commitment to democratic values and sustainable development, stressing its proactive role in advancing the BRICS agenda for inclusive growth. Birla noted India’s recent Lok Sabha elections, where approximately 650 million voters participated, leading to the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Expressing gratitude for his re-election as Speaker, Birla welcomed four new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates into the BRICS Parliamentary Forum. He praised the Russian Chair for integrating these new members seamlessly into the organization.

Birla underscored BRICS’ role in advocating for greater democratization in global governance, including reforms in international bodies like the UN Security Council and WTO.