Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 22 (ANI): Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, along with youth and sports ministers and representatives from the 11 BRICS member countries, on Saturday visited Thotlakonda, a prominent Buddhist heritage site in Visakhapatnam, as part of the ongoing BRICS Youth Ministerial Meeting.
During the visit, Mandaviya planted saplings at the heritage site as the BRICS delegates explored the ancient Buddhist complex and learnt about its historical and cultural significance.
The delegates inspected the Maha Stupa, ancient wells, kitchen complex and meditation centres at Thotlakonda. A guide briefed them on the site's history and its importance as a centre of Buddhist learning and meditation.
Speaking about the visit, Mandaviya said that the BRICS delegates appreciated India's Buddhist heritage and highlighted its significance for the global community.
"Today, all BRICS delegates visited the Buddhist heritage site in Vizag. Everyone appreciated it very much; everyone saw it. India's heritage sites are important for the world, and the Buddhist heritage site is also important not only for our nation, but worldwide," he said.
A delegate from Russia described the site as a "fantastic" and "very beautiful, historic place", expressing hope that it would attract a large number of tourists in the future.
"It's fantastic... A very beautiful, historic place. I am from Russia... I hope that this place attracts a lot of tourists... I hope that it will invite a lot of them," she said.
Speaking about the BRICS event, she said it was "very well-organised" and expressed hope that the meeting would lead to fruitful outcomes, including the adoption of a declaration of the BRICS Youth Council.
"It's very well-organised. So, I hope it will be fruitful, this meeting today, and we will adopt a new declaration... declaration of the Youth Council," she said.
According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' My Bharat initiative, the BRICS Youth Ministerial Meeting is aimed at providing a high-level platform for youth ministers of member countries to give strategic direction to youth empowerment initiatives.
The meeting is being held under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship vision of "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", with a focus on recognising young people as key partners in building a resilient and inclusive future.
The meeting will review recommendations emerging from the BRICS Youth Summit and Youth Council and use them to guide cooperation and policy discussions in areas including education, skills and entrepreneurship. It will culminate in the adoption of the BRICS Youth Ministerial Joint Declaration and the BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework, which are expected to provide a long-term roadmap for youth cooperation among BRICS countries.
India assumed the BRICS Chairship in 2026 for the fourth time, having previously held the chair in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
India's 2026 BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. (ANI)
India's heritage conservation shines through as BRICS representatives explore Buddhist heritage sites in Visakhapatnam
