The number of states that are planning to join BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) increased significantly last year, about 20 countries want to join. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who opened on Monday, 27 February, a meeting with the heads of territorial bodies representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Russian regions.

The foreign minister said the countries wishing to become part of BRICS and the SCO have an important role to play in their regions. Among them are Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and a number of other African countries.

"Over the last couple of years, the number of countries that want to join BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has increased rapidly. There are already about two dozen of them"

Sergei Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister

The diplomat also urged Russian regions to step up interaction with these organisations, stressing the high status of BRICS and the SCO. Lavrov mentioned that they already have formats aimed specifically at cooperation between the provinces of the member states.

The day before, Anil Sooklal, the South African Sherpa to the BRICS, said that the members of the association had begun to work out the criteria for the group's enlargement. They are expected to be prepared within the next three months.

Chinese authorities supported the expansion of the BRICS bloc. The Chinese government noted that fruitful cooperation among the member countries in the area of finance would accelerate the recovery of domestic economy in the BRICS countries.

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