Leaders of the five-nation BRICS bloc, at a one-day summit?in New Delhi on Thursday, issued a declaration on a broad range of international issues including stability, security and prosperity.

The declaration was issued after leaders of BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, met here at the fourth BRICS summit to discuss global governance and sustainable development and to coordinate their stands on major world and regional issues, under the theme of BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity.

The fourth BRICS summit came at a crucial moment for the bloc, as the global economic recovery is still struggling against fragile financial systems, high public and private debt, high unemployment and the rising price of oil. Pressing issues, such as climate change, food security and energy security are also posing challenges to the world.

The declaration highlights the roles of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the Doha Round of trade talks, the possibility of establishing a new development bank for emerging economies and developing countries, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Syria and Iran, the situation in Afghanistan, energy and efforts to fight terrorism.

"We call upon the IMF to make its surveillance framework more integrated and even-handed; welcome the candidatures from developing world for the position of the President of the World Bank; have considered the possibility of setting up a new Development Bank for mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries; will continue our efforts for the successful conclusion of the Doha Round; and recognize the vital importance that stability, peace and security of the Middle East and North Africa holds for all of us," the leaders said in the declaration.

"We agree that the period of transformation taking place in the Middle East and North Africa should not be used as a pretext to delay resolution of lasting conflicts but rather it should serve as an incentive to settle them, in particular the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"We express our deep concern at the current situation in Syria and call for an immediate end to all violence and violations of human rights in that country. The situation concerning Iran cannot be allowed to escalate into conflict, the disastrous consequences of which will be in no one's interest.

"Afghanistan needs time, development assistance and cooperation, preferential access to world markets, foreign investment and a clear end-state strategy to attain lasting peace and stability.

"We reiterate that there can be no justification, whatsoever, for any act of terrorism in any form or manifestation. We express our strong commitment to multilateral diplomacy with the United Nations playing a central role in dealing with global challenges and threats," according to the declaration.