XI BRICS culture ministers’ meeting concludes in Bhopal

The XI BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held in Bhopal today under India’s BRICS Chairship and concluded with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration, providing a practical and forward-looking framework for strengthening cultural cooperation among BRICS Member States and partner countries.

The BRICS Culture Track under India’s Chairship progressed through three Culture Working Group meetings. The first meeting was held virtually on 29–30 April 2026, followed by the second meeting in Varanasi on 4–5 June 2026 and the third meeting in Bhopal on 5–6 August 2026. The Ministerial Meeting held today witnessed participation from 14 countries, including India, comprising 10 BRICS Member Countries and 4 Partner Countries.

The BRICS Member Countries participating were Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, with Egypt joining the Ministerial Meeting online. The Partner Countries were Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Thailand. The Culture Ministers of Indonesia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates also participated in the Ministerial Meeting, reflecting the high-level engagement in the Culture Track. A total of 55 delegates participated in the meetings.

The Bhopal Declaration, adopted today, advances cooperation in the cultural and creative industries and creative economy, including the exchange of methodologies, experiences and best practices, support for creators, networking and expanded opportunities for market access through digital tools.

India expressed its appreciation to all participating BRICS Member States and Partner Countries for their constructive engagement and active participation during its Chairship and reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation towards a more connected, inclusive and future-ready cultural partnership within BRICS. (UPDATED ON 8TH AUGUST 2026