"We sent this note to all countries about our desire to join the BRICS, then by the decision of the BRICS, the president [of Bolivia] was invited to the summit, precisely because we have already submitted an application, and of course we have submitted this application here [in Russia]," Urzagaste told reporters.
Bolivian Foreign Minister Rogelio Mayta declared on Monday that the country wants to join BRICS and will take part in the summit in South Africa, which will be held in person in Johannesburg on August 22-24.
It was noted that Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce officially notified on June 12 of the country's desire to join the BRICS economic bloc.
On August 1, another Latin American country, Venezuela, announced that it had officially applied to become a member of the BRICS format. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro emphasized the BRICS group's leading role "in building a new world," expressing his hope that the application will be approved shortly.
BRICS brings together the world's largest developing economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A number of other countries intend to join the economic bloc, including Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and others.
Last month, South African BRICS sherpa Anil Sooklal stated that twenty-two countries had formally approached BRICS to become a full member of the group.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the BRICS enlargement will be discussed at the upcoming summit of the group in South Africa's Johannesburg on August 22-24.