Plea for making BRICS Young Diplomats Forum annual event

Kolkata, Sept 6 (PTI) Participation and exchange ofyoung diplomats in various professional courses conducted byForeign Services Institutes of BRICS countries should beencouraged, the second BRICS Young Diplomats Forum hasrecommended. During the four-day forum held in the city, it was alsorecommended that the meeting should be made an annual event"in order to provide opportunities to young diplomats tofoster excellent long-term functional relationships amongBRICS nations". The forum has also recognised the importance of digitaltechnology and supported the use of joint official futuredigital platforms as tools for exchange of information andinteraction. "Youth exchange programmes must be supported in academiasports, science and technology as well as business. Regularinteraction of young scholars and researchers working in thefield of international relations and its various dimensionsshould be encouraged," members of the BRICS Forum toldreporters here today. The Forum called upon the Diplomatic Training Institutesof BRICS nations to conduct foreign policy modules for theBRICS young diplomats to encourage better understanding ofpolicies and cultural diversities, they said. The Forum also welcomed the possible signing of aframework agreement between Diplomatic Academies of BRICSnations for sharing of expertise and experience. "The signing would provide a platform for corporationbetween the Diplomatic Academies in an institutional mannerand interaction among young diplomats," they stated. Besides meeting senior ministers of the state government,the young diplomats participated in various programmes and metSpeaker of the state Assembly. India will host the two-day 8th Annual BRICS summit fromOctober 15 in Goa with the participation of the heads of stateor heads of government of the five-member states Brazil,Russia, India, China and South Africa. PTI SCH MDGVS