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Pretoria: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (2nd R) at the 2nd formal meeting of the BRICS Ministers of External Affairs, in Pretoria on June 04, 2018. (MEA/Facebook via PTI Photo)[/caption]
Johannesburg, June 4 (IANS): Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday called for joint action by the BRICS grouping against money laundering and financing of terrorists.
Addressing the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Foreign Ministers’ meeting here, she said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for a BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy “for joint action with a focus on money laundering, terrorist-finance, cyber-space and de-radicalization as our priorities”.
With BRICS cooperation in strategic security, counter-terrorism, UN reforms, de-radicalisation, cyber security, energy security, international and regional hot-spots being deliberated in detail during meetings of the grouping’s National Security Advisors, she said: “Our meeting today takes place at a time when multilateralism, international trade, and rules based world order face strong head-winds.
She also said that BRICS countries have contributed to global stability and growth in a world drifting towards uncertainty.
Later addressing the media here along with her counterparts from the other BRICS nations, Sushma Swaraj said that India attaches great importance to its engagement with BRICS.
“BRICS brings together almost 42 per cent of global population, with impressive growth, investment and trade share,” she said, adding that in Monday’s meeting, the leaders exchanged views on current issues of global significance in political, security, and economic spheres.
“There exists considerable potential for BRICS to take our cooperation to an even higher level. We appreciate initiatives being undertaken during South Africa’s Chairmanship. We are supportive to the theme and priorities listed by South Africa for 2018.”
She also stressed how 2018 was of special significance for both as they were commemorating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, 100th birth anniversary of the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela and the 125th anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg train incident of Mahatma Gandhi.
During her visit here, Sushma Swaraj will also chair the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
On Wednesday, she will visit the Phoenix Settlement, a South African Heritage site, marking the place that served as Gandhi’s home and where he developed his philosophy of non-violence.
She will also participate in a series of events on Wednesday-Thursday at Pietermaritzburg to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the historic incident in the train compartment that became a catalyst for Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement.