The two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is taking place in Nizhny Novgorod. The event is being attended by representatives of the BRICS partner countries in addition to the group’s member states.

In a joint
statement, the foreign ministers reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen strategic cooperation in three main areas – politics and security, economy and finance, cultural and humanitarian ties. They reiterated their commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect, equality, solidarity, openness and inclusiveness.

The Foreign Ministers reiterated the importance of the G20 as the main platform for international economic co-operation, bringing together both developed and developing countries on an equal and mutually beneficial basis.

The diplomats pointed to the need for joint efforts to combat climate challenges. They also noted the increasing relevance of the relationship between sustainable development and global health. In addition, the Ministers called for further co-operation in the field of agriculture and food security.

The Foreign Ministers concluded that it is important to increase the use of national currencies in trade and financial transactions among the BRICS countries. They referred to paragraph 45 of the second Johannesburg Declaration, which instructs finance ministers/central bank governors of the grouping to consider the use of national currencies, payment instruments and platforms.

“Expanding the scope for the use of national currencies in domestic settlements among the BRICS countries will play an important role in enhancing the flexibility of their economies,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.

The diplomats expressed their full support for Russia’s BRICS chairmanship in 2024 under the motto “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”.

On the margins of the Ministerial Council, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani. They discussed co-operation between the countries within the BRICS and SCO frameworks. The diplomats paid special attention to finalising the text of a new comprehensive interstate treaty.

The BRICS countries should use their market and resource advantages to promote the formation of a multipolar world and economic globalisation. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the meeting.

“We will push for the formation of an equitable and orderly multipolar world and comprehensive economic globalisation,” the minister added.

Sergey Lavrov also held a meeting with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie on the margins of the event. The sides exchanged views on cooperation in the UN and other international organisations. In addition, they discussed conflicts on the African continent with a focus on the situation in the Horn of Africa.

This is the first meeting of foreign ministers after the expansion of BRICS in 2024. Now full members of the association are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. About 30 more countries want to co-operate with BRICS in one format or another.

Representatives of Bahrain, Belarus, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Laos, Mauritania, Thailand, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and other countries also attended the meeting.

Photo:
Russian Foreign Ministry