Brasília, Brazil — The second BRICS “Traditional Values” Forum, taking place from September 15 to 17 in the Brazilian capital, has formally presented an official list of common values that member states say will serve as a foundation for stronger cooperation in cultural, economic, and humanitarian fields.
The gathering, hosted at Brazil’s National Congress, has brought together parliamentarians, business leaders, academics, and cultural figures from BRICS member countries, along with representatives from partner nations and candidate states. The event aims to bridge policy and cultural dialogue at a moment when the bloc is seeking to expand its role in shaping global governance.
Shared values at the heart of BRICS cooperation
Addressing the forum, Dmitry Kuznetsov, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, member of the Committee on International Affairs, and Vice President of the Forum, emphasized the philosophical and cultural dimension of BRICS. He cited the words of iconic Brazilian author Jorge Amado, who envisioned “a world where man no longer sees another man as an enemy, and differences in skin color mean no more than differences in age.”
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“This dream is what unites our nations today,” Kuznetsov declared, adding that BRICS must build its cooperation not only on pragmatic interests but also on a “spiritual foundation.”
He underscored the importance of literature and the arts in shaping shared identities:
“Writers give form to what we believe in, what we hope for, and what we pass on to future generations. Strengthening cooperation among writers of different countries is essential to creating this shared value base.”
Moments from the Traditional Values Summit in Brasília. 
Moments from the Traditional Values Summit in Brasília. 
Moments from the Traditional Values Summit in Brasília. 
Moments from the Traditional Values Summit in Brasília. 
Moments from the Traditional Values Summit in Brasília. 
Moments from the Traditional Values Summit in Brasília.
A list of common values
Based on the analysis of works submitted to the BRICS Literature Award, forum experts compiled a list of values said to unite member states. These include:
- Mercy and humanism
- Cultural sovereignty and equality of cultures
- Economic well-being and social justice
- A multipolar world order
- Health and sustainable development
- Responsibility to future generations
- Mutual respect and solidarity
- Moderation and avoidance of fanaticism
- A culture of honesty
Organizers stressed that these principles represent not just abstract ideals but actionable guidelines for policy and cooperation across BRICS nations.
Cultural and institutional cooperation
Kuznetsov thanked the Brazilian Academy of Letters, the Union of Writers of Russia, the Russian Book Union, and similar organizations from other BRICS countries for their role in shaping the discussion. He highlighted the creation of the Writers’ Unions Alliance and the establishment of the BRICS Literature Award as concrete platforms fostering cultural dialogue.
“The recognition of shared values through literature is not symbolic alone,” he said. “It provides an intellectual basis for cooperation across fields such as business, technology, health, and humanitarian work.”
New initiatives on the horizon
Forum participants announced plans to launch new initiatives in education, preventive medicine, business innovation, and humanitarian projects. According to Kuznetsov:
“Faith without deeds is dead. I thank those preparing to take decisive steps for our peoples — in business, in healthcare, in innovation, and above all, in culture.”
Toward a joint declaration
The forum will culminate with the signing of a Brasília Declaration, the first point of which affirms the shared values identified through the BRICS Literature Award process. The declaration will call on member states to integrate these principles into international projects aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and promoting a “value-based dialogue” across the bloc.
Organizers stress that this values framework is intended as a counterweight to global polarization. “Strengthening universally understood moral and spiritual benchmarks,” the closing statement reads, “is an important step toward fairer and more harmonious international cooperation in the face of global challenges.”
The BRICS “Traditional Values” Forum continues through September 17, with sessions on cultural sovereignty, education, and the role of civil society in shaping multipolar cooperation.
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