NEW DELHI: BRICS leaders have reiterated their call for comprehensive reform of the UN, including the Security Council, while backing greater representation of developing countries in global decision-making structures in the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit.
The leaders, who met in New Delhi from September 12 to 13 under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship, reaffirmed their commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration and consensus.
In the declaration, the BRICS countries said global governance should become more just, equitable, representative, democratic, accountable, effective and responsive, while reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism, multipolarity and international law.
The leaders reiterated their support for greater and more meaningful participation and representation of emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs) and least developed countries, particularly from Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, in global decision-making processes and structures, according to an official statement.
They also called for equitable geographical representation in the UN Secretariat and other international organisations, particularly at senior and decision-making levels, and stressed the need to increase the participation of women, especially from EMDCs, in leadership positions.
The declaration noted that no woman has ever been elected as UN Secretary-General. It also pointed out the limited regional representation in the position, noting that only one national from Latin America and the Caribbean, and only two nationals each from Africa and Asia, have occupied the post.
BRICS leaders also reiterated their support for reform of the UN Security Council to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient. China and Russia, as permanent members of the Security Council, reiterated their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council.
The leaders said Security Council reform should amplify the voice of the Global South and recognised the legitimate aspirations of African countries as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
On sustainable development, the BRICS countries reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and described poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, as the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.
They also recognised inequality within and among countries as a major underlying challenge and took note of a proposal by South Africa and Brazil to establish an international panel on inequality.
The declaration further called for reform of global economic governance and the Bretton Woods Institutions to make them more representative, transparent, accountable, inclusive and reflective of changes in the global economy.
BRICS leaders reaffirmed their commitment to IMF quota and governance reform, including meaningful quota realignment under the 17th General Review of Quotas. They said quota realignment should reflect countries’ relative positions in the global economy and increase the quota and voting shares of emerging markets and developing countries without coming at the expense of developing countries.
The leaders also backed greater voice and representation of developing countries in the World Bank and reaffirmed their support for reform of the World Trade Organization and strengthening of a non-discriminatory, open, equitable, transparent, fair, inclusive, predictable and rules-based multilateral trading system.
They strongly advocated the immediate restoration of an accessible, effective and fully functioning two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement mechanism and called for the appointment of new Appellate Body members without further delay.
BRICS also expressed support for Ethiopia and Iran’s bids for accession to the WTO and acknowledged China’s expansion of zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties.
The declaration recalled the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung and said the Bandung Spirit should serve as a reference in pursuing a fairer, more inclusive and representative multilateral system.
The leaders also reiterated their commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as discrimination based on religion, faith or belief, while expressing concern over rising hate speech, disinformation and misinformation.
The declaration welcomed the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 80/250 on the declaration of the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity. The leaders also called for the prompt and full implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution 79/115 of December 2024 to eradicate colonialism in all its forms and manifestations.
The leaders highlighted the role of BRICS in giving greater voice to the Global South and said multipolarity could create greater opportunities for emerging markets and developing countries to pursue inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic cooperation.
On India’s BRICS Chairship, the leaders welcomed more than 400 meetings and engagements involving ministers, parliamentarians, heads of agencies, officials, experts, businesses and people across 30 cities in India.
They also welcomed the convening of the BRICS Business Forum 2026 and initiatives including the BRICS Solutions Awards 2026 and BRICS Women’s Start-up Awards 2026.
The leaders commended the BRICS Business Council for its efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and welcomed its annual report and policy recommendations on trade, investment and resilient supply chains. They also welcomed the launch of the Sustainable Development Network.
The declaration recognised the role of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance in promoting women’s entrepreneurship, leadership and economic participation and welcomed recommendations aimed at improving access to finance, markets, technology, skills development and digital opportunities for women-led enterprises.
The leaders also acknowledged the outcomes of the BRICS Think Tank Council, BRICS Civil Council, BRICS Academic Forum and BRICS Civil Forum and welcomed progress in strengthening dialogue among academic communities and civil society organisations.
They noted that BRICS expansion reflected its influence, credibility and appeal as an important platform for inclusive global governance. The leaders welcomed progress on establishing a BRICS Online Archival Database and looked forward to its early operationalisation.
The declaration also welcomed the convening of the XII BRICS Parliamentary Forum in October 2026, including meetings of women parliamentarians and international affairs committee chairpersons, to strengthen exchanges and cooperation among parliaments.
The leaders commended India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026 and expressed gratitude to the government and people of India for hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
They extended full support to China for its BRICS Chairship in 2027 and for hosting the 19th BRICS Summit in China.
