New Delhi, May 28 -- India has called upon BRICS to lead not just geopolitically, but also civilisationally, forging a "cultural ecosystem" that celebrates diversity, deepens humanity and anchors progress in shared values. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in his address on Monday at the BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Brazil, also called for "stronger legal frameworks" to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property, and advocated "ethical AI" that respects cultural diversity.

The ministerial-level dialogue culminated in the "adoption of a Joint Declaration outlining four strategic cultural priorities," the Indian Ministry of Culture said in a late-night statement.

These four priorities are - "Culture, Creative Economy, and...