Russia Expects 20-25 Countries at BRICS Foreign Council in June, Country's Envoy Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia expects about 20-25 countries to attend the upcoming BRICS Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod next month, Pavel Knyazev, ambassador at large of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Moscow's sous-Sherpa in BRICS, said on Friday.
Sputnik
"We expect about 20-25 countries, including BRICS members, to attend the foreign ministers' council," Knyazev told reporters.
In addition to member states, Russia invited about 15 "friendly" countries, including those chairing regional integration associations, to attend the BRICS Foreign Council, scheduled to take place from June10-11, the ambassador added.
Russia took over the rotating chairmanship of BRICS in January. The club of developing economies grew by four members this year and now comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.