Russian President Vladimir Putin says the BRICS countries have rightly proved to be an equitable entity on the global arena with ever growing influence in global affairs.
“The strategic course of BRICS is aimed at the future and it meets the aspirations of the main part of the international community, the so-called global majority,” Putin said.
Putin was speaking virtually on the second day of the 15th BRICS Summit, currently underway in South Africa.
By acting in concert on the principles of the equality partner support and the countries which have interest, Putin said Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) deal with the most pressing issues of global and the regional agenda.
“The main important thing is that BRICS stands for a multiple world order that is equitable and build on international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, including respect. The BRICS countries are building up their potential and home to three billion people.
“Over the past decades, BRICS investments to the global economy have doubled and the cumulative export reached 20 percent of the overall indicator. We are successfully implementing the strategy for the BRICS economic partnership 2025,” Putin highlighted.
He also reiterated the importance of speedy development of trans-continental routes, such as north and south corridor, which will, in the future ensure the annual transit of up to 30 million tons of cargo.
“We believe that it is high time to establish a BRICS permanent commission on transport that will deal, not only with north [and] south projects, but in broader terms, it will deal with logistics and transport corridors development, both inter regional and global ones.
“Should the partners agree to that, the Russian side could work on this idea within its chairmanship in 2024, and certainly we welcome strengthened interaction within BRICS,” Putin said.
In terms of global innovations, Putin said Russia is looking forward to a more active cooperation within the BRICS global research advanced infrastructure network, noting that it could be supported and developed by a special trust fund.
For its part, he said, Russia is ready to share experiences and best practices, including when it comes to digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence.
He said the country also support the proposal of South Africa to organise a separate Ministry on Women Affairs, saying their role in political, economic and social lives of states should be harnessed.
Putin also commended South Africa for the role it played as chairman of BRICS, noting that it has received positive assessments for the BRICS activities.
He announced that Russia will next year assume BRICS chairmanship, and the country is planning to have 200 political, economic and public events to be hosted by Russian cities, amongst others.
He said the BRICS Summit is scheduled for October 2024 at the city of Kazan in Russia, at a date still to be announced.
Peace and stability preconditions for a better world
Meanwhile, commenting on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Putin said Russia decided to support people that fight for their culture, traditions, language, and their future.
“Our actions in Ukraine are guided by only one thing ... to end the war that was unleashed by the West and its satellites against the people who live in the Donbas. We thank our colleagues within BRICS that [have] taken active part in the attempts to put an end to this situation, and to ensure just settlements by peaceful means,” Putin said.
He added that the main thing is that “we unanimously stand for the shaping of the multiple world order, which is genuinely equitable and build on international law”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address at the Open Plenary of the 15th BRICS Summit also shared the similar sentiments saying peace and stability are preconditions for a better, more equitable world.
"We are deeply concerned about conflicts across the world that continue to cause great suffering and hardship.
"As South Africa, our position remains that diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter are necessary for the peaceful and just resolution of conflicts," President Ramaphosa said.
He said the new economic, political, social and technological realities call for greater cooperation between nations.
"These realities call for a fundamental reform of the institutions of global governance so that they may be more representative and better able to respond to the challenges that confront humanity."
While firmly committed to advance the interests of the Global South, President Ramaphosa said BRICS stands ready to collaborate with all countries that aspire to create a more inclusive international order. - SAnews.gov.za
