The first BRICS Traditional Values Forum is taking place in Moscow. At the meeting, parliamentarians, public and cultural figures from Brazil, Egypt, India, China, Russia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Uganda and other countries stressed the need to protect and preserve traditional spiritual and moral values.

The participants established the BRICS Standing Meeting on Literature. Its activities will be aimed at enhancing cultural ties, studying and promoting literature, and popularising the works of contemporary authors of the BRICS countries. The aim of the permanent meeting is to create a single integrated cultural and literary space of the group’s countries.

“This meeting has laid the foundation for translating literature more actively. And we are talking not only about fiction, but also about professional literature – technical and any other kind of literature,” said Tamara Skok, Director of the Department of Innovative Linguistic Projects at TV BRICS, head of the network’s international project “Modern Russian”.

She also said that a declaration on cooperation between Russian and Indian cinema was signed at the forum.

In his turn, Sergey Demensky, CEO of the Eurasian Media Group, in his comments to TV BRICS, drew attention to the fact that currently readers in Russia and abroad are not sufficiently aware of contemporary BRICS authors and are not familiar with their works.

“Familiarising ourselves with what is happening today in the literary processes of our countries will certainly allow us to get to know each other better and contribute to a better understanding between our states,” he stressed.

In addition, the BRICS Forum Declaration on Traditional Values states the need to study and identify effective approaches to promoting traditional spiritual and moral values among children, as well as to support joint volunteer programmes with the participation of representatives of the countries of the association on a common platform of mercy. As for business activities, the participants of the meeting proposed to establish a business platform of co-operation based on traditional moral values.

“We realise our diversity: we have different cultures, different religions, different identities. But we are coming together now because there are common traditional values that we have to develop and unite together,” said Zelalem Melak Bogale, Member of Ethiopian Parliament.

The BRICS Traditional Values Forum is taking place from 17-20 November. The event includes round tables and sessions on family values, the role of education in their upbringing, international diplomacy and the promotion of spiritual and moral values through the media.

Photo: TV BRICS