Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, 1 September called on Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Serbia, in Belgrade, reaffirming the bilateral friendship and expanding partnership between India and Serbia rooted in mutual respect and shared interests. Rijiju also delivered India's official statement at the High-Level Commemorative Meeting marking the 65th Anniversary of the First Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Meeting with Serbian President

During the bilateral interaction with President Vucic, Rijiju described the exchange as 'warm and meaningful,' underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations. The meeting signalled India's intent to strengthen diplomatic engagement with Serbia beyond traditional multilateral forums.

India's Statement at NAM's 65th Anniversary

Delivering India's address at the commemorative session, Rijiju invoked the foundational spirit of the movement. 'Sixty-five years ago, the founding Conference of Non-Aligned Countries first met and gave institutional shape to an idea that was revolutionary for the time — that newly independent nations need not be drawn into geopolitical rivalries,' he said. He noted that India was proud to stand as one of the five founding members of NAM.

Rijiju acknowledged that the world today bears little resemblance to the bipolar order against which NAM originally defined itself. He identified contemporary global challenges — including climate change, debt sustainability, resilient supply chains, the technological divide, and trade and tariff pressures — as the new frontiers the movement must address.

India's Role as a Global South Partner

The Minister highlighted India's consistent record as a constructive global actor. He pointed to India's development partnerships spanning more than 100 NAM member states across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India supplied medicines and vaccines to more than 150 countries, he noted, and the country has frequently served as a first responder during natural disasters.

Rijiju also recalled that during India's G20 Presidency, New Delhi ensured the entry of the African Union as a formal member of the grouping — a move widely seen as a significant diplomatic win for the Global South. He affirmed that India is guided by the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — and remains committed to human-centric development for developing nations.

AI, Technology and the M.A.N.A.V. Vision

On emerging technologies, Rijiju stressed that artificial intelligence must be anchored in inclusivity and must ensure that its benefits reach the Global South. He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's M.A.N.A.V. vision for AI — an acronym standing for Moral and Ethical Systems, Accountable Governance, National Sovereignty, Accessible and Inclusive, and Valid and Legitimate — as India's framework for responsible AI governance.

Call for Reformed Multilateralism

Rijiju called on NAM members to champion reformed multilateralism, including restructuring the UN Security Council and International Financial Institutions to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. He reaffirmed that 'India remains committed to the principles and values of NAM and will continue to actively engage with partners to revitalise our Movement.' With NAM's relevance under renewed scrutiny in a multipolar world, India's intervention sought to reposition the bloc as a platform for actionable Global South solidarity.