Global Leaders Adopt "New Delhi Declaration" at World Public Summit

The World Public Summit: India 2026 concluded on March 26, 2026, in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in global public diplomacy. Organised by the World Peoples Assembly in collaboration with the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the summit brought together leaders, thinkers, and civil society representatives from 153 countries.

High-level Russian participation included Sergey Cheryomin, Minister of the Moscow Government, Russian Cosmonaut and Hero of the Russian Federation, Oleg Skripochka, and Svetlana Smirnova, Chairperson of the World Peoples Assembly, who emphasized that the "Delhi Principle" of civilizational diversity will be the cornerstone of the new global architecture.

The primary outcome of the event was the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, a framework aimed at fostering international cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world.

The New Delhi Declaration: centred around the "Delhi Principle," which asserts that global unity is achieved not through uniformity, but through the celebration of civilizational diversity.

The declaration emphasizes that human dignity and mutual respect are the foundations of a shared future. Rather than imposing harmony from the top down, the summit called for "conscious unity"—a grassroots approach where different cultures find common ground through honest dialogue.

Under the theme "New World: India in the Architecture of a Shared Future," the declaration outlines several priority areas for global action, including:

- Ethical Leadership: A call for value-based leadership that prioritizes humanitarian needs over geopolitical competition.

- Public Diplomacy: Strengthening the role of non-governmental actors, including youth and women, in international relations.

- Technological Ethics: Ensuring that emerging sectors, including space and digital technology, serve as tools for inclusion rather than division.

The summit highlighted the "Partnership Economy," a model that balances economic growth with social responsibility. This includes a commitment to the Global South, ensuring that developing nations have a leading voice in shaping global economic policies.

"Harmony cannot be imposed; it must come from within the human consciousness. Platforms like this enable us to engage in honest conversations and truly listen to each other." — Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Minister of State for External Affairs.

Impact and Next Steps

The New Delhi Declaration is not intended to be a static document. It serves as the foundational agenda for the upcoming World Public Summit in Moscow later this year. By focusing on "India’s role in a shared future," the summit successfully positioned India as a bridge between the East and West, as well as the North and South.

A package of working models from Asia and the Global South was also developed to be integrated into broader international frameworks.

Participants committed to moving from "dialogue to action," focusing on sustainable development and the preservation of spiritual and cultural heritage.

The World Public Summit is a premier international forum dedicated to public diplomacy, civilizational dialogue, and the development of a shared global future. It brings together world leaders, scholars, and civil society to address the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.