The BRICS high representatives on national security held a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa on December 6, 2013.

The meeting observed a minute silence in honor of the late former President Nelson Mandela, joining millions of South Africans and the rest of the world in expressing condolences to the people of South Africa, the African National Congress and the Mandela family.

The BRICS officials dealt with a number of security matters in preparation for the next summit of the leaders of BRICS in Brazil in 2014.

Reflecting on the issues of cyber security, the meeting agreed on the establishment of an expert working group that will meet in early 2014 in South Africa, to finalize a concrete set of proposals for adoption by the leaders' summit.

The meeting agreed to cooperate closely on the prevention of terrorism, working through the United Nations system as a primary forum in preventing, combating and mitigating threats pertaining thereto. Part of the collaboration agreed upon will involve sharing best practices, capacity building and sharing of information and intelligence.

Challenges pertaining to global peace and security were also reflected on and the BRICS countries agreed to continue working collectively to ensure positive outcomes and the resolution of conflicts in such hotspots inclusive of advancing the security agenda in the African continent.

Noting the importance of transport in economic, social, political and cultural lives of all humanity, the meeting resolved to strengthen cooperation with regard to transport security including anti-piracy initiatives, knowledge sharing and capacity building with states in piracy-affected areas.

(Reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa)