External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has emphasized that the current COVID-19 challenge underlines all the more the need for reform of multilateral systems and that reformed multilateralism is the way forward. In his remarks at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on Coronavirus through video conference, Dr Jaishankar referred to the centrality of development and growth in the global agenda.<br />'' <br />'' He emphasized that the pandemic is not only posing a great risk to the health and well being of humanity but is also severely impacting global economy and output by disruption of global trade and supply chains. The Minister said, economic activity across sectors has been negatively impacted leading to loss of jobs and livelihoods. He emphasized that there is a need to provide support to businesses, especially MSMEs, to tide over the crisis and ensure livelihoods are not lost. The External Affairs Minister pointed out that the efficacy of traditional medicine systems to strengthen immunity should be recognized and that BRICS should support these efforts.<br />'' <br />'' He highlighted the initiatives and various decisive steps taken early by India in the wake of the pandemic including through Aarogya Setu Citizen App and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package. Dr Jaishankar highlighted that much before the outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO, India instituted measures to check Corona Virus. He apprised the BRICS Foreign Ministers about the initiative to coordinate efforts to contain COVID-19 in South Asia, and creation of COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund by the SAARC countries. The Minister said, India is providing pharma assistance to nearly 85 nations, including many countries in Africa, on a grant basis, to support their response to the pandemic and it has been widely welcomed.<br />'' <br />'' He thanked the Russian Foreign Minister for convening this extraordinary meeting. The External Affairs Minister noted that BRICS, which brings together almost 42 percent of global population, with impressive growth, investment and trade share, has an important role to play in shaping the global economic and political architecture.<br />'' <br />'' India also reaffirmed its strong support for Russian BRICS Chairship in 2020 and the overall theme of "BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth".<br />'' <br />'' Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov chaired the meeting. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Amb. Ernesto Araújo, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Ms. Grace Naledi Pandor represented the their countries.<br />'' <br />'' This video conference was convened in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The discussions centred around COVID-19 crisis, its impact and BRICS response. The BRICS Foreign Ministers also discussed the activities to be undertaken under Russian BRICS Chairmanship in 2020.<br />'' <br />''<br />''A virtual meeting of BRICS Health Officials is envisaged on COVID-19 pandemic on 7th of next month to take the discussion forward in a focussed and purposeful manner.<br />