Johannesburg: Culture is a very important factor in the BRICS bloc and its five countries comprising the grouping are deeply connected in terms of values, India’s culture minister Meenakshi Lekhi has said. Lekhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, met culture ministers of BRICS countries in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa on Friday ahead of the BRICS Summit in

Pleased to participate in the 8th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting today in Mpumalanga,
South Africa. Signed the Declaration of 8th Culture Ministers’ Meeting which will facilitate
robust cultural exchange amongst BRICS countries,” she tweeted.
“Spoke on the ancient cultural linkages between the BRICS countries and how India is
positioning culture at the heart of global policy making through our G20 Presidency and
the need to digitise valuable collections for promoting exchange of cultural knowledge,”
she said.

Addressing a community meeting of local and expatriate Indians at the offices of the
Consul General of India on Saturday evening, Lekhi shared some of the ideas she
exchanged with her counterparts from India’s partners in BRICS

Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.
The ministers discussed the importance of cultural diplomacy and the potential of cultural
industries in driving economic revival and fostering social cohesion in a post-pandemic
world.
One of the outcomes of a meeting was the culture ministers from the BRICS bloc agreed
on the restitution of properties which have been taken out of their countries of origin by
the erstwhile colonial powers.
“We also discussed the need for a rights-based approach to indigenous communities
who have every right to preserve and protect their own culture,” Lekhi said.
“Sustainability as part of culture and digitization of cultural heritage, whether in
museums, UNESCO sites, libraries at various places across the globe and not in India is
important. At least give us a digitized copy so that we can have references to them,” she
said.
“Culture is a very important factor when it comes to BRICS countries. These five
countries are very deeply connected in terms of culture and values,” she said.
South Africa and India share not just a language, but a history of “our struggles and our
value systems” the minister added.

ekhi said that as BRICS discussions progressed, it became very clear that the people of
BRICS countries wanted to communicate culturally through filmmaking, dialogues,
music, dance and language.
“The sustainability of the environment through a sustainable culture of using natural
materials in handicrafts also came under the spotlight. If we ingratiate ourselves in
responsible consumption, it becomes a cultural responsibility,” she said.
Lekhi said that at the G20 Summit, the culture component has been pushed by India very
seriously and it would continue doing this at other international forums, including BRICS.
“On several fronts, we see commonalities here too in BRICS countries,” she said.
After sharing insights on their respective nations’ experiences in navigating the
challenges posed by the Covid-109 pandemic and other issues, the ministers signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in the Field of Culture.
This agreement will serve as a foundation for future collaboration and is expected to
provide a framework for joint initiatives, including cultural exchanges, capacity building,
and creative collaborations