The 15th BRICS Summit, held over three days in South Africa, concluded with the announcement of the group's expansion.
Johannesburg, South Africa.- As of January 1, 2024, Argentina, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia will officially be new members.
Russia believes new members of BRICS will contribute to the bloc
Moscow.- Russia trusts that the new members of the BRICS will contribute significantly to the development of the bloc, declared the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Ryabkov.
The Deputy Foreign Minister made statements at a press conference dedicated to the results of the 15th summit of the group and pointed out that Moscow does not doubt that the new members of the bloc will make a significant and unique contribution to its development.
Ryabkov stressed that each new BRICS member “has a rich history, culture, significant economic potential and plays an important role, not only in its region but on the international stage.”
“It is important that all of them, not only support but share the fundamental BRICS values, including the spirit of solidarity, equality, mutual respect, openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation,” he added.
This year’s BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg from August 22nd to the 24th, under South Africa’s presidency. At the event, it was agreed that Argentina, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia would join the group starting on January 1st, 2024.
Legislators support Argentina’s admission to BRICS
Buenos Aires.- The legislators of the Frente de Todos (Front of All-FdT) stressed Friday that Argentina's admission to the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is an achievement in economic policy and results in the Government's constant work.
In a press release, the legislators highlighted the efforts done by President Alberto Fernández and Vice President Cristina Fernández, assuring that the BRICS is a valuable tool to boost exports in the most expanding markets.
They also pointed out that Argentina’s entry into that bloc will promote productive development, work, and prosperity.
They also recalled that the BRICS account for about 42 percent of the world’s population and 24 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
We, Argentina, will join the BRICS alongside Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran in January 2024 to continue strengthening our strategic international relations through constant work and dialogue, the text states.
While some (presidential) candidates are appearing on television promising to break agreements with Brazil or China, we see in this new scenario an opportunity for a better future for the Argentine people, it concludes.
Indonesia weighs whether or not to apply to join the BRICS
Jakarta.- Indonesia is weighing whether or not to apply to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which is trying to counteract the world hegemony of the West, according to local media.
On Thursday, President Joko Widodo said in Johannesburg, on the last day of the 15th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the BRICS, that his country, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, “is still analyzing and weighing whether or not to join the group.”
We do not want to make a hasty decision, Widodo said in a video released from South Africa, in which he added that Indonesia has “good relations with the BRICS countries, especially in the economic sector.”
The group took a historic step on Thursday when it agreed to bring Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran into the bloc in a bid to join forces.
Some 40 countries expressed their desire to join the group, according to South Africa, which holds this year's rotating presidency of the BRICS and received formal expressions of interest from 23 countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, and Venezuela.
Indonesia was expected to be one of the candidates to join the expansion, but the country finally decided not to submit a letter of membership application.
Joining the BRICS at this time is seen in Indonesia as an economic opportunity that could come at a geopolitical “cost” if the group can eventually be seen as a rival to the Group of Seven (G7) most developed countries, according to an editorial published in The Jakarta Post this week.
Palestine thanks BRICS' support against Israeli occupation
Ramallah.- Palestinian National Council (Parliament) Speaker Rawhi Fattouh, on Friday, thanked the BRICS' support to the inhabitants of the occupied territories and its backup for a negotiated solution.
Fattouh highlighted the importance of the final declaration of the 15th Summit of the forum, formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
The BRICS’ fostering is a victory for the justice of the Palestinian people, who are struggling for their legitimate national rights, he said in a press release.
He also pointed out “the condemnation and rejection of the fascist occupation and its criminal practices in the occupied territories.
Fattouh thanked the countries participating in the meeting, especially the host, and emphasized on South Africa’s historic support for Palestine.
In the final declaration, the Summit’s participants expressed concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories and the escalation of violence due to the ongoing Israeli occupation.
China to send food to Africa and back up agricultural modernization
Beijing.- China will send a new shipment of food to Africa to combat the current food crisis and will support the continent's agricultural modernization.
According to the Xinhua agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping made both announcements at the end of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
The President also undertook an initiative in support of the industrialization of Africa, of which China is the largest trading partner. He also said that Beijing will continue to support the region in speaking with one voice on global affairs and continuously improving its international standings.
During the BRICS Plus Dialogue on the sidelines of the summit, Xi called for increasing the representation of developing countries in the new global governance. In his speech, he advocated for joint efforts to build a community of shared development and stressed that no nation should be left behind in the process of global modernization. In this case, he announced a special fund of 10 billion dollars for the implementation of the Initiative for Global Development (IGD).
The president revealed that China will cooperate greatly with African countries regarding the sharing of satellite mapping data, the implementation of the Smart Customs Cooperation Partnership, and the launch of the “IGD for the Future of Africa” action plan with UNESCO.
“Over the past decade, China has provided a large amount of development assistance to Africa, helping to build over 6,000 kilometers of railways, over 6,000 kilometers of highways, and more than 80 large-scale power plants,” Xi commented.
In the joint statement following the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue, as part of the Summit, China pledged to promote Africa’s regional economic integration, strengthen intra-African trade, promote investment, and facilitate the development of value chains.
With information from Prensa Latina
