RSA statement on the adoption of 7th BRICS Ministers of Communications Ministerial declaration
Dear colleagues,
This has been a very productive discussion. Your very able management and chairing, the work of our officials in the last few days has proceded well and was equally productive.
South Africa would like to endorse the Declaration of the 7th Ministers of Communications Meetings as a true reflection of discussion and consensus positions in our BRICS meetings this year.
We would like to encourage each one of us to continue working in-between the annual meeting. It is important that work continues over the year instead of a once-off meeting.
In the stocktaking engagements, our officials identified the establishment of focus groups as defined by the Development Agenda and Action Plan of 2021, as key to working in-between meetings to fulfil our decisions and that of Heads of State and Government in deeping our cooperation.
In my earlier remarks I said we are glad that the overall work programme of the Working Group and the various platforms, including the BRICS Institute for Future Networks (BIFN), Digital BRICS Task Force (DBTF), work on the Digital Public Goods (DPGs) etc. because it it innovation biased and Research and Development focussed. Recently, governments across the world, due to competing priorities, have reduced their R&D and Innovations investment and support. Such platforms allow for a consolidation of resources for research, development and innovation for public benefit and good.
Chair, let me not be long. Instead let me lastly pledge our full support to the next chair and host of the stream, China in 2022.
I thank you
