BRICS forum in Moscow highlights sustainable urban development

The BRICS Urban Future Forum held in Moscow last week brought global stakeholders together to discuss creative ideas and practical solutions for sustainable urban development.

The forum, held from Sept. 18 to 19, attracted more than 13,000 participants from over 30 countries. The forum involved a range of prominent speakers, including mayors from major cities in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, to discuss and share best practices to make the urban development more sustainable.

With projections indicating many cities in the BRICS countries will evolve into mega ones, the forum emphasized the importance of exchanging ideas for innovative solutions.

"I was invited to join the conference as a representative from China, from Shenzhen. I'm the chairman of the Hiland International Talent Group. My topic is how entrepreneurship innovation can thrive in big cities. We have quite a few very interesting discussions among all the different panelists. My contribution to the team is, we felt particularly, when this world being divided more and more, we need to work together to bridge the world, and specifically talent will play a very critical role," said Zhai Bin, chairman of Hiland International Talent Group.

The forum reinforced a collective commitment among BRICS countries to address urban challenges, fostering a vision for a more sustainable future amid ongoing global uncertainties.

"So we can use these kind of funds to start some of the projects because they are bringing some of the others, some technological partners from other countries. It is not always possible to find right partner from another country, and another city. These European Union's funds bring cities together for creative solutions [for] their common problems," said Erol Ozguner, Chief Information Officer of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

"We had the energy summit where all the BRICS nations are represented, and where we had a great discussion of how sustainable development is very important. And China leading in one of the largest lithium battery manufacturing and electric vehicles is something. The minister council who represents India really said it aptly that we are ready to share that technology and we're ready to expand and grow to make sure the world is greener," said Sameep Shastri, Vice Chairman of India's BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

BRICS forum in Moscow highlights sustainable urban development

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced Wednesday the launch of a major multi-domain military operation dubbed "Arctic Sentry", as Russia warned of countermeasures over the "militarization" of the Arctic territory Greenland.

The "Arctic Sentry" mission is aimed at strengthening NATO's presence across the Arctic and High North regions, according to the alliance's Allied Command Operations, headquartered in Mons, Belgium.

Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesperson for NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said earlier that the operation will feature regular naval exercises, intensified airspace monitoring with Allied fighter jets, and the temporary deployment of small army contingents to Denmark's autonomous territory of Greenland and other Arctic locations.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte revealed on Wednesday that tens of thousands of NATO military personnel are expected to participate in exercises conducted within the "Arctic Sentry" framework.

In Moscow, addressing the State Duma on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Russia would respond with adequate countermeasures, including military ones, should Greenland be "militarized".

In a separate interview released online on the same day, Lavrov accused NATO of attempting to transform the Arctic into a theater of confrontation.

NATO has repeatedly engaged in provocations in the Arctic, but such actions will diminish quickly once their planners realize the serious consequences, said the Russian foreign minister.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, which he said is vital to American national security. Trump has also proposed deploying a "Golden Dome" missile defense system on the Arctic island, a plan that has alarmed Russian officials.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the Russian military would "closely monitor and analyze" Washington's intentions regarding Greenland.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also said earlier this month that the recent tensions surrounding Greenland stem from the U.S. desire to maintain its hegemony, vowing that Russia would ensure its national security under any circumstances.

NATO launches "Arctic Sentry" mission amid Russian warnings over Greenland militarization