The President spoke this Sunday (23) at the meeting of leaders of the India-Brazil-South Africa Forum, on the sidelines of the G20
President Luiz Inácio da Silva defended, this Sunday (23), that the India-Brazil-South Africa Forum (Ibas) takes the forefront in the governance of artificial intelligence and expands dialogues on decent work in emerging markets and on the health agenda, such as vaccines and sexual and reproductive rights. According to him, the forum has stagnated in recent years, but trilateral coordination can be revived with leadership on essential international issues.
Lula spoke during the meeting of Ibas leaders, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the sidelines of the Summit of Leaders of the group of the largest economies in the world, which takes place in the South African capital. The trilateral initiative was developed in 2003 with the aim of promoting cooperation between countries in the Global South.
“India, Brazil and South Africa have the vocation of reconciling the values of sovereignty and autonomy with the search for development and the defense of democracy and human rights. This capacity, which is lacking in today’s world, is the hallmark of Ibas and our greatest contribution to the international order”, he stated.
“Defending the multilateral health agenda and the debate on access to medicines, vaccines and supplies is a path that Ibas should explore. Between the three of us it is possible to openly talk about human rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights. There is confidence to discuss the fight against extremism and the defense of democracy”, he said.
Furthermore, for the president, the actions of unions and non-governmental organizations from the three nations should inspire the debate on social participation and the “dilemmas of the world of work in emerging markets”. Among them, a global governance of artificial intelligence that boosts the development of nations in an equitable way.
“Our countries are key to building a fair, democratic and functional system of governance and access to data,” said Lula to the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
South-South Cooperation
In his speech, Lula recalled that Ibas leaders had not met since 2011 and that it is essential to establish a frequency for these high-level meetings. For the president, the forum’s coordination on Global South issues must be reflected in other consolidated international bodies, such as the G20, the United Nations and Brics (a bloc of emerging countries with 11 members, including the Ibas countries).
“The question that arises for our countries is: what is the role of Ibas? What space do we have in the current situation? Is it possible to think about dialogue with new democracies in the Global South, such as Mexico, Kenya or Malaysia?”, assessed Lula.
For him, a “deep reflection” is needed on the future of the forum. “I believe that if Ibas insists on duplicating the agendas of , we will continue in its shadow. The status of major emerging countries in the Global South and great democracies gives Ibas its own identity and abilities”, he said.
He cited that the forum’s vocation for South-South cooperation “is still alive” and gave as an example the Ibas Fund, “a simple and effective initiative”. “Since its creation, it has financed 51 projects in 40 countries and was one of the precursors of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty that we launched at the G20 last year [durante da presidência do Brasil no grupo]”, he recalled.
Agenda
Lula arrived in Johannesburg on Friday (21) to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit – a group of the world’s largest economies. This Saturday (22), he spoke at the first two thematic sessions of the G20, on sustainable and inclusive economic growth; and climate change and disaster risk reduction. This Sunday, he also spoke in the third and final session about critical minerals, artificial intelligence and decent work.
The Brazilian president also held bilateral meetings with the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the prime minister of Germany, .
Also this Sunday, Lula gives an interview to the press and heads to Maputo, capital of Mozambique, where he will make a working visit this Monday (24). The trip is part of the celebrations of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The presidential delegation is expected to depart back to Brazil on Monday.
*With information from Agência Brasil
Published by Nícolas Robert
