Om Birla Urges Border Peace and Digital Ties at BRICS Forum
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla discusses border peace with China and digital governance with UAE on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum.
In a series of high-stakes diplomatic engagements, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met with key parliamentary leaders from China, the UAE, and Iran on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026. The discussions, which Birla detailed via posts on X, focused on a broad spectrum of critical issues, ranging from the urgent need for border tranquillity to the cutting-edge implementation of artificial intelligence in governance.
Strengthening the India-UAE Strategic Bond
During his meeting with Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE, Om Birla focused on deepening the historic friendship between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. The two leaders emphasized the role of legislative cooperation and the frequent exchange of parliamentary delegations to solidify their ties.
A significant portion of the conversation centered on the digital revolution. Birla and Ghobash explored sharing best practices in digital governance, specifically discussing:
- Digital Sansad: India's initiative to digitize parliamentary proceedings.
- Artificial Intelligence: Leveraging AI for better governance.
- Online Assurance Monitoring System: Improving transparency and tracking in legislative commitments.
The dialogue also aligned the national visions of both countries, linking India's Viksit Bharat aspirations with the UAE’s We the UAE 2031 vision. They discussed expanding cooperation across trade, investment, education, and youth exchanges, while recognizing the India-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group as a crucial bridge between the two nations' lawmakers.
Call for Peace and Dialogue with China
In a more sensitive diplomatic exchange, Speaker Birla met with Zheng Jianbang, Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. While the talks touched upon economic trade, healthcare, and education, the primary focus remained on regional stability.
Addressing the complexities of the relationship between the two neighbors, Birla was firm on the necessity of stability. He underscored that both India and China share a "shared responsibility" to maintain peace and tranquillity along their shared borders. He emphasized that any differences must be resolved amicably through mutual respect and consistent dialogue.
"I emphasised that, as neighbours, our two countries have a shared responsibility to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border and resolve differences amicably through dialogue and mutual respect," Birla stated.
The Speaker expressed his hope that multilateral platforms like BRICS and the efforts of parliamentary friendship groups would foster a deeper mutual understanding between the two global powers.
A Broad Diplomatic Push
Beyond the specific meetings with the UAE and China, the Lok Sabha Speaker's engagements extended to Iran, reinforcing India's commitment to regional stability and diplomatic outreach. Throughout these interactions, Birla highlighted the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable paths to promoting lasting peace and mutual prosperity on the global stage.