BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from April 28 to 29, issued a chair's statement, elaborating on the common positions of the BRICS countries on issues such as upholding multilateralism, defending fairness and justice, and promoting common development.The ministers support an open, transparent, fair, predictable, inclusive, equal and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system based on rules and with the World Trade Organization at its core, according to the statement.
They are seriously concerned about unfair unilateral protectionist practices that violate WTO rules, including the abuse of reciprocal tariffs.The ministers stressed that international trade is an important driving force for promoting inclusive growth, eliminating hunger and poverty, and promoting sustainable development for the Global South, it said.They reiterated their commitment to continue promoting necessary WTO reform, improving its functions and strengthening its basic principles to address the rising unilateralism and protectionism.The foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to multilateralism and compliance with international law, defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and maintaining the central role of the UN in the international system.
They condemned any unilateral attempt to undermine the functioning of multilateral institutions, it noted.They reiterated that all countries should cooperate based on equality and mutual respect to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms.