Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has arrived in Russia's city of Kazan to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit, the press service of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan said on Tuesday.
"Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has arrived in Kazan to take part in the 16th BRICS Summit. Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of the Republic of Tatarstan, met the prime minister in the airport," the statement said.
Ethiopia officially joined BRICS on January 1, 2024, in accordance with the decision made in the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg last August.
From October 22 to 24, the BRICS summit will be held in Russia's Kazan with the participation of heads of state. The Tatarstan authorities reported earlier that a large number of foreign delegations would arrive in Kazan — more than 30 countries have confirmed their participation in the BRICS summit. The event will be focused on strengthening multilateralism, integrating new members of the bloc and addressing regional challenges. The leaders of the BRICS member states are expected to agree on a joint declaration.
BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the bloc on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association. In addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, according to the website of the Russian 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. Saudi Arabia has been attending BRICS meetings, although it has reportedly not formalized its participation in the bloc.