BRICS Foreign Ministers Call for Inclusive Global AI Governance at UNGA
Viable News Team 
BRICS Foreign Ministers have urged for inclusive and globally representative governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the auspices of the United Nations, with a particular focus on ensuring meaningful participation for developing countries.
Meeting on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly on Friday, the Ministers emphasized that AI must be developed and applied “for good and for all,” with due regard for national policies, sovereignty, data protection, equitable resource access, and innovation. The session was chaired by India, the incoming BRICS Chair for 2026.
AI for Development and Equity
In their joint statement, the Ministers encouraged leveraging AI to address social, economic, linguistic, and cultural challenges. They committed to supporting AI capacity building in developing nations, underscoring the need for knowledge transfer and equitable opportunities in the digital economy.
“The Ministers looked forward to BRICS cooperation to help developing countries strengthen AI capacity building,” the statement noted.
ICT and Cybersecurity
The Ministers also highlighted the transformative role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in accelerating socioeconomic growth and digital transformation within BRICS states. They reiterated their commitment to building a safe, open, secure, and interoperable ICT environment, while calling for global norms and legal frameworks to tackle cybercrime, malicious software, disinformation, and misuse of emerging technologies.
Science, Health, and Technology Cooperation
The meeting reaffirmed BRICS’ dedication to the peaceful use of science and technology. Areas of focus included:
- Health innovation, vaccine development, and digital health cooperation.
- Combating tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance.
- Advancing nuclear medicine and traditional medical systems.
- Promoting intra-BRICS vaccine manufacturing and knowledge sharing.
On space security, the Ministers reiterated opposition to the weaponization of outer space and called for legally binding agreements to prevent an arms race beyond Earth.
They further pressed for progress on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and its Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing, stressing the importance of global preparedness and equitable access in future health crises.
BRICS Growth and Expansion
The Ministers acknowledged the ongoing BRICS expansion process based on the Membership Expansion Guiding Principles adopted at the Johannesburg Summit. They stressed the importance of institutional development, including the creation of a common BRICS database for improved access to official documents and background information.
They also reaffirmed BRICS’ commitment to openness, inclusivity, and collaboration, underscoring the value of strengthening partnerships with Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) to promote genuine international cooperation.
“The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to consolidate and strengthen BRICS in line with the group’s spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration, continuity, full consultation and consensus,” the joint statement read.
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