New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh to Lead BRICS Parliamentary Forum Delegation in South Africa

Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, will lead a parliamentary delegation to the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum scheduled to take place in Johannesburg from September 27th to 29th.

The overarching theme of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum revolves around the utilization of Multilateralism and Parliamentary Diplomacy to strengthen the partnership between BRICS nations and Africa. Additionally, sources have indicated that Deputy Chairman Harivansh will actively engage in discussions on critical issues such as climate change and legislative mobilization during the event.

Accompanying Harivansh on this diplomatic mission are Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik and Lok Sabha MP Indra Hung Subba, who will depart for the BRICS Parliamentary Forum today. Aside from the thematic discussions, the forum will also address topics such as regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and the transition to clean energy, according to sources.

The BRICS Parliamentary Forum holds significant importance within the BRICS framework, exemplifying the collaborative efforts of the National Congress of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Parliament of the Republic of Bharat, the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. It reflects their shared commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties and fostering cooperation across various domains.

South Africa assumed the BRICS Chairmanship in January 2023 as part of the rotational governance principle. The event is expected to draw approximately 250 parliamentary delegates from BRICS Member States, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The venue for this significant gathering will be Emperors Palace in Kempton Park.

It is noteworthy that South Africa recently hosted the BRICS leaders' summit in August this year, where they made the historic decision to extend full membership to six new countries in the BRICS bloc starting from January 1st. These new members include Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

Tirumala's Shri Venkateswara Swamy Salakatla Brahmotsavam begins today