The primary objective of Russia's BRICS chairship in 2024 will be to establish a framework for the engagement of new members and those interested in cooperation with the organization, said Alexander Shchetinin, Director of the Latin American Department at Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the Russia-Latin America conference in Moscow.
"Efforts will now be directed towards ensuring that all member countries of BRICS, in their newly expanded composition, determine their format of participation, level of cooperation with BRICS," he said, adding: "This is one of the main tasks that will fall on the Russian chairship in 2024."
The diplomat stated that additional efforts will be directed to enhance collaboration within the association among both new participants and those exhibiting interest in BRICS. The terms of future cooperation within the group are also to be defined.
Currently, "contacts are underway on the work within the framework of the association between BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas, but also contacts are being established with all countries at the level of relevant departments," he continued.
The BRICS summit was held on August 22-24 in Johannesburg under the chairship of South Africa. The country's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced at the final press conference that Argentina, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia will join the association on January 1, 2024.
The First Russia - Latin America International Parliamentary Conference is being held in Moscow from September 29 to October 2, at the initiative of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament. The event brought together parliamentarians from Latin America and the Caribbean, representatives of the expert community, public figures, and diplomats to discuss current issues on the international parliamentary agenda.