India participates in 10th BRICS culture ministers’ meeting in Brazil

New Delhi, Jul 28: A delegation led by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took part in the 10th BRICS Ministers of Culture Meeting held in Brasília, Brazil, under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” The meeting concluded with the adoption of a comprehensive declaration outlining future cultural cooperation among BRICS nations.

The declaration reaffirmed BRICS’ commitment to multilateral cultural collaboration, recognising culture as a key driver of sustainable development, inclusive growth, social cohesion, and environmental protection.

The ministers agreed to promote ethical and inclusive use of artificial intelligence in the cultural sector, strengthen copyright frameworks in the digital environment, and encourage multilingualism in AI systems to protect linguistic and cultural diversity. The declaration welcomed Indonesia into the BRICS grouping and encouraged new members to accede to the existing 2015 agreement on cultural cooperation. The ministers also proposed the establishment of a BRICS platform for cultural and creative industries and committed to supporting national efforts to develop creative economies.

In a significant move, the declaration called for stronger international legal frameworks for the return of cultural property to countries of origin and endorsed Brazil’s proposal to host a BRICS expert meeting on the subject. Environmental concerns also featured prominently. The ministers backed the inclusion of culture as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda and recognised the role of cultural heritage in climate resilience. They advocated for greater climate finance to support the safeguarding of cultural assets in developing countries and stressed the importance of traditional knowledge systems in climate adaptation.

The declaration further supported a calendar of BRICS cultural and heritage events, including Brazil’s upcoming BRICS Film Festival. It also encouraged deeper engagement with existing cultural alliances such as those focused on museums, libraries, folk dance, and film schools. The implementation of BRICS cultural initiatives will remain the responsibility of individual nations, with tailored approaches reflecting national priorities.

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