BRICS Agree on Principles of Expansion, Adopt Document, SA Foreign Minister Says
16:30 23.08.2023 (Updated: 18:09 23.08.2023)
© AFP 2023 RODGER BOSCH
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South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has shared the information in the course of the 15th BRICS Summit, that is being held in South Africa's Johannesburg on August 22-24.
The BRICS countries have agreed on the key principles for the expansion of the group, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has stated on air of her ministry's radio station.
"We have agreed on the matter of expansion. We have a document that we have adopted that sets out the guidelines and principles, processes for considering countries that wish to become members of BRICS," Pandor said.
According to her, additional details on the expansion of the group of the five countries should be presented by the leaders at the end of the summit held in Johannesburg.
"The more detailed announcement will be made by the BRICS leaders before the conclusion of the summit," the minister noted.
Since January, the sherpas of the BRICS countries have been preparing the concept of expansion and the principles of its implementation.
In addition, the minister stated that the interest in the bloc's activities is growing noticeably.
"So it looks like BRICS has become a concept that has taken root in the popular discourse and you're seeing the growth in interested sectors and the government is keen, all the governments, in ensuring that we see this greater elaboration," she further elaborated.
Moreover, she stressed that the parties interested are different, many actors are eager to be involved in the processes connected to BRCIS on different levels.
"What is absolutely great is the momentum is coming from stakeholders, civil society, business, women, youth, academics, think tanks. So BRICS is becoming a set of multifaceted interactions between a whole range of institutions and stakeholders in the BRICS countries and given their size we are talking of thousands coming together, and I think this is absolutely incredible," she outlined.
In addition, the minister expressed eagerness to learn more about the issue of using of local currencies by the BRICS New Development Bank at the future bloc's summit that is planned to take place in Russia's city of Kazan in October 2024.
"And we look forward to hearing more about that at the next summit, which will be in Russia," Pandor stressed.
In overall, the minister stated that the summit has gone well so far, she had positive feelings about it.
"I think the sessions have gone so far very, very well. So I'm feeling very positive," she said.
