The 9th BRICS Youth Summit opened on Tuesday in the city of Durban in the southeast of South Africa under the theme "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism." It was organized by The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
According to NYDA spokesperson Bongekile Skosana, more than 200 people from all the BRICS member states are participating in the summit. She noted that the event serves as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between countries "seeking to promote peace, security and development in a multipolar, interdependent and increasingly complex world."
The meetings within the summit, which will last until July 20, are held at the Coastlands Umhlanga and Convention Center in the north-east of Durban.
She added that the summit will contribute to the creation of new connections between young people, and promote the exchange of experience in youth initiatives. The discussions are aimed at encouraging young BRICS leaders to participate in international efforts to address global challenges, economic and social issues, to make their contribution to the development agenda.
"As a result of the summit, a specific action plan will be developed to coordinate joint steps of youth organizations and groups of the BRICS countries in the economy, humanitarian and media spheres, as well as in science," Skosana said.
Anil Sooklal, ambassador at large for Asia and BRICS at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, who participated in the first session of the summit, highlighted the key role that BRICS is now playing in the world, noting that the economic bloc may eventually reform the entire architecture of international relations.
Sooklal, who is also South Africa's BRICS Sherpa, added that he put forward an initiative to include youth representatives in the BRICS leaders' summits so that "the voice of young people would be heard."
South Africa's Minister of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma echoed the diplomat's remarks, saying that new tools must be developed to build the future Africans want, and highlighting that those tools and ideas should come from the youth.
"We expect young people to accelerate the building of a new global system that is more just and inclusive. BRICS is a breakaway from the past," she said, delivering a speech during the first day of the summit.
The meeting is aimed at strengthening the constructive interaction of young people on expanding opportunities for their development, creating a favorable environment for moving forward. The proposals of the BRICS Youth Summit will be presented to the meeting of ministers responsible for youth affairs for decision-making and adoption of the resolutions made by delegates from the summit.
BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue
The BRICS Youth Summit is one of the many events leading up to the BRICS Summit scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in August.
Just a few weeks before the much-anticipated 15th BRICS Summit, the African National Congress, the ruling party in South Africa, is hosting the BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg from July 18 to 20.
So far, delegations from more than 45 countries have convened in the city on the East Rand (Ekurhuleni) of Gauteng province to take part in discussions on the role of the BRICS group in promoting global peace, security, development and economic growth. Delegates that have already arrived include the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Communist Party of China, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace of Cote d'Ivoire, and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the African National Congress said in its press release.