BRICS+ countries discuss regional and global issues at the summit in Kazan

A BRICS+/outreach meeting was held in Kazan on the last day of the XVI BRICS Summit, 24 October. The meeting, attended by representatives of nearly 40 countries and international organisations, was dedicated to the theme "BRICS and the Global South: Together Building a Better World."

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered opening remarks at the meeting. He drew attention to the fact that the meeting brought together around one table the states of Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America that are interested in establishing a closer partnership with BRICS.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in turn, welcomed the countries of the global South to join the group's activities. He emphasised that China will support these nations in their endeavour to participate in BRICS.

"The collective rise of the countries of the Global South is a clear sign of significant changes in the world. The joint pursuit of modernisation by these states is an important event in world history"

Xi Jinping Chinese President

Continuing the theme of strengthening ties between BRICS and the Global South, Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga noted that increased South-South cooperation contributes to the development of these countries. He called for increased trade and investment, as well as deeper cooperation in the financial and tourism sectors. 

In addition, the meeting was addressed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. He declared the republic's readiness to become a member of BRICS.

"We fully share the BRICS philosophy. The Republic of Belarus has specific ideas and projects that will contribute to solving universal problems. We are ready to become an active participant of the association"

Alexander Lukashenko Belarusian President

According to him, the republic can play an important role in the implementation of the group's projects in such areas as security, sustainable development, fighting hunger, poverty and climate change, as well as in the humanitarian sphere.

Thongloun Sisoulith, President of Laos and Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), also expressed his intention to expand ties with BRICS. He proposed to establish a mechanism that would strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and the organization's dialogue partner countries, including BRICS.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the meeting called for reforming the United Nations (UN) and the global financial system. He said a new payment instrument should be created to foster an inclusive economy.

"BRICS is the epicentre of the birth of a new world that is based on the principles of humanism. [...] Venezuela shares the principles of the association"

Nicolas Maduro Venezuelan President

The first meeting in the BRICS+/outreach format ended with a speech by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He listed some priority areas of the world community's work, among them financing developing countries, fighting climate change and cooperation in the field of technology. In addition, the secretary general agreed on the need to reform the UN Security Council.

BRICS summit in Kazan began on 22 October. On the first day, delegates met at an informal lunch for the group's leaders. A day later, the Kazan Expo Exhibition Centre hosted a meeting of BRICS countries in both narrow and enlarged format, following which the BRICS leaders adopted the final Kazan declaration.

The summit in Kazan, held within the framework of Russia's BRICS chairmanship, was the first time that the BRICS members met for the first time in a new composition. In 2024, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Egypt has joined the group.

Photo: Sergey Bobylev, Aleksey Danichev, photo host agency brics-russia2024.ru