BRICS leaders met in New Delhi on September 12 to adopt a joint declaration calling for the protection of cultural heritage, including in conflict‑affected areas, and the repatriation of antiquities to their countries of origin. The declaration was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping, President Vladimir Putin, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other senior officials.
The New Delhi Declaration, adopted on the first day of the two‑day summit, also welcomed the Bhopal Declaration from the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting, underscoring culture’s role in fostering people‑to‑people ties. The consensus joint declaration was reached after the United Arab Emirates and Iran resolved differences over the West Asian conflict, though it did not mention U.S. strikes on Iran or Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states.
The leaders emphasized cooperation among museums, archives and libraries, and encouraged the exchange of information and best practices in the cultural and creative industries. They noted the pilot “Artist Registry” initiative and supported joint nominations under UNESCO conventions. The declaration praised the BRICS Culture Festival, WAVES Bazaar, Theatre Festival and Film Festival as platforms for showcasing cultural diversity and called for their expansion.
Tourism was highlighted as a driver of sustainable development. The declaration urged knowledge sharing on responsible, regenerative tourism models, the use of AI and digital tools for efficient systems, and the promotion of diverse products such as heritage, nature, gastronomy and health tourism. It welcomed the Jaipur Tourism Ministers’ Meeting communique, which aims to strengthen intra‑BRICS cooperation and enhance international competitiveness.
