Russia, as the BRICS chair, will hold consultations with potential new partner countries by January 1, Sergey Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa, said on the sidelines of the International Customs Forum.
Ryabkov emphasized that BRICS leaders in Kazan reached an agreement on the criteria for inviting new members, but the work isn't finished.
"The Russian presidency will hold contacts with potential partners in the months remaining until January 1 and, having made sure that they are interested in receiving such status and in receiving, starting next year, the corresponding invitations, the Russian presidency, upon completion of this work, will announce who specifically has been included in this list," he said.
The Russian diplomat also stated that the leaders have approved this specific approach.