Russia
Source: tass.com

Nikonov also said the clout accumulated by BRICS makes it impossible for other groups, including G20, to ignore their consolidated stance

RIO DE JANEIRO, September 11. /TASS/. The BRICS bloc (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is not limited to purely pragmatic approaches, but relies on the values shared by the five nations that go beyond the "purely Western" ones, Vyacheslav Nikonov, chair of the education and science committee of the Russian State Duma (lower house of Parliament), said on Wednesday.

"We are not together because it makes us stronger. And not because BRICS provides us with a set of tools for development, which we are creating by ourselves," Nikonov, the head of the National Committee on BRICS Research who is leading the Russian delegation, said at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Academic Forum in Brasilia.

According to Nikonov, BRICS is "a network of values" which goes beyond the "purely Western" ones.

"Western values is a good thing. Nobody is against democracy, human rights and the rest. However, there are [some other] important values which are regarded as a more intrinsic part of our countries and our people than purely Western ones," the politician said.

Nikonov explained that he meant justice, self-respect, independence, non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs, adherence to dialogue, respect for cultural diversity, the principles of pluralism and the supremacy of international law.

"We accept each other as we are, and it is very important," Nikonov stressed.

Nikonov also said the clout accumulated by BRICS makes it impossible for other groups, including G20, to ignore their consolidated stance.

"When BRICS declares something, G20 has nothing to answer back. BRICS is a part of reality which cannot be ignored," Nikonov, the head of the National Committee on BRICS Research who is leading the Russian delegation, said at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Academic Forum in Brasilia.

Nikonov described BRICS as a gold standard of cooperation among nations and a perfect example of "liberal world order," under which, in contrast to the Washington-dominated model, "all key players are [equally] important."

The BRICS Academic Forum, which kicked off on Wednesday, is the bloc's main platform for experts. This year's forum will look for new ways of cooperation and development. Experts from Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa will discuss the bloc's financial sector, the development of trade, investment, energy and agriculture along with the fight against international crime.

BRICS is an informal assembly of nations. The acronym of BRICS is derived from the first letters in the names of its member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). South Africa joined the bloc in 2011 when it was called BRIC. The bloc aims to develop comprehensive cooperation between its members and is not directed against any third party.

The BRICS Academic Forum, which kicked off on Wednesday, is the bloc's main platform for experts. This year's forum will look for new ways of cooperation and development. Experts from Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa will discuss the bloc's financial sector, the development of trade, investment, energy and agriculture along with the fight against international crime.

BRICS is an informal assembly of nations. The acronym of BRICS is derived from the first letters in the names of its member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). South Africa joined the bloc in 2011 when it was called BRIC. The bloc aims to develop comprehensive cooperation between its members and is not directed against any third party.

Russia
Source: www.mid.ru

Question: The relations with Suriname have seen a new dynamism in the recent years. Can you please elaborate on the importance that you attach to this historic visit to Suriname, against the background of Russia's intentions to revitalize relations with the countries in the Caribbean Region?

Sergey Lavrov: It is true, the relations between Suriname and Russia have gained new momentum in the recent years. A number of landmark events contributed to it: the first-ever visit of Yildiz Pollack-Beighle, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, to Russia in October 2017, and the signing of two fundamental instruments establishing framework for our bilateral cooperation; I refer to the Agreement on Basic Principles of Relations and the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Conditions for Waiving Visa Formalities in the Mutual Visits of the Citizens of our countries.

We regard Suriname as an important partner in developing multifaceted cooperation with the States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We aim at enhancing cooperation with this subregion in such priority areas as facilitating sustainable development, providing assistance in disaster response, training of diplomatic, law-enforcement, and emergency services officials of the Caribbean States, increasing educational, tourist, cultural, humanitarian and sport exchanges, promoting economic initiatives.

This approach was also reaffirmed during my recent visit to Paramaribo, where we discussed in detail promising joint projects in the areas mentioned. Now it is our common goal to implement the agreements that we reached. Russian ministries and agencies have already been actively working on this.

I note with satisfaction that our countries are working closely at the multilateral fora, primarily the UN. For our part, we are ready to expand our foreign policy coordination based on international law.

Question: You have recently attended a BRICS meeting in Brazil. Can you share your views on the developments within BRICS and the impact of this partnership, bearing the mind the changing geopolitical landscape?

Sergey Lavrov: While world politics and economy are getting increasingly turbulent, BRICS remains an example of how the multilateral cooperation should be organized based on the principles of mutual respect of interests and making important joint decisions by consensus.

The full-scale meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Rio de Janeiro on July 26, 2019 became a clear embodiment of such a vision. We had a most candid discussion of the pressing issues on the global and regional agenda. Those demonstrated the convergence or proximity of the five countries' approaches to s wide range of issues pertaining to maintenance of international peace and security. We supported strengthening coordination at the key multilateral fora — the UN, G20, WTO. We also agreed to enhance joint efforts to counter terrorism and transnational organized crime, and efforts in the area of international information security.

Strengthening strategic partnership with the BRICS countries is one of Russia's foreign policy priorities. In this regard it is encouraging that the dialogue within BRICS has gained very good momentum in the recent years. Since BRICS was established — and this year the 11th BRICS summit is to be held by the Brazilian chairmanship — the five States have become a major pillar of the emerging fairer and more democratic polycentric world order. The BRICS countries are firmly committed to the key principles and norms of international law. We consistently oppose any unilateral actions not supported by the UN Security Council, including interference in internal affairs, or sanctions. All members agree that there is no alternative to political and diplomatic settlement of conflicts. We concur that it is necessary to adopt rules of responsible behavior of States in the information sphere, and to introduce a legally binding regime prohibiting the weaponization of outer space.

Economy continues to be an integral element of partnership – especially as today the combined economic power of BRICS has surpassed that of the G7. The New Development Bank has been functioning successfully, it has approved investment projects with a total cost of over 10 billion USD. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement intended to contribute to maintaining financial stability of the BRICS countries, has been operating efficiently.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation, people-to-people contacts are on the rise. A lot of events are planned for this year. I will only mention the International Biennial of Contemporary Art to open at the end of September in Curitiba, Brazil, which has already become a good tradition, and BRICS Academic Forum to be held on September 11-12 in Brasília.

I am positive that BRICS Summit on November 13-14 will become an important milestone in promoting the cooperation between the five countries in all three major areas of strategic partnership — political, economic, and humanitarian.

Question: Our countries are geographically far apart, and yet we share as mentioned by you on several occasions during your visit to Suriname, important internationally accepted principles, in our efforts to resolve regional and global matters of concern. How do you view Russia's role in contributing to the regional discourse and maintaining the Latin American and Caribbean region a Zone of Peace?

Sergey Lavrov: You are absolutely right, cooperation between Russia and Latin America is based on similar approaches to foreign policy that rely on respect for national sovereignty, commitment to international law, and the central and coordinating role of the UN in global affairs.

Russia does not view the region of Latin America and the Caribbean from the perspective of geopolitical zero-sum games. Our dialogue is not aimed against any third countries. Cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean is an intrinsically valuable area of Russian foreign policy, and we strive to make it pragmatic and free from any ideological biases.

Unfortunately, Latin America and the Caribbean now find themselves under serious pressure. We are deeply concerned over the U.S. attempts to rewire Latin American political landscape for its own needs, in the spirit of the revived Monroe doctrine. What Washington has done is to usurp the right to use force where it sees fit based on its own assumptions in order to overthrow governments it is not satisfied with for whatever reason.

We constantly underline that such actions by U.S. Administration disrupt the foundations of regional security and stability, lead to the polarization of Latin American societies, and run counter to establishing a zone of peace in Latin America, as stated in the Declaration of Havana adopted at CELAC Summit in January 2014.

Russia has consistently advocated a politically united and economically stable Latin America – only under this condition the region will be able to assert itself as one of the pillars of multi-polar world order. We aim to work collaboratively with everyone who shares our approaches in order to maintain peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. Such cooperation is facilitated by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (the Treaty of Tlatelolco) — the first international instrument that makes an entire region a nuclear-free zone. We are ready for further fruitful cooperation with our Latin American partners on strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Brazil
Source: www.reuters.com

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Vice President Hamilton Mourao said on Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Brazil in November, as the two nations seek to strengthen political and economic ties at a time of global trade tensions.

The visit is expected to take place during a summit of BRICS countries, a grouping of nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Mourao said during a conference in Sao Paulo hosted by the Brazil-China Business Council.

The BRICS summit this year, scheduled for Nov. 13-14 in Brasilia, will be hosted in Brazil for the third time. It came to Brasilia in 2010, and the northeastern city of Fortaleza also hosted the summit in 2014.


"China recognizes in Brazil a key regional partner," Mourao said, noting that trade between the two countries reached $100 billion in 2018. Trade should remain around these levels this year as China increased imports of meat from Brazil following an outbreak of African swine fever, he said.

Also on Monday, Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said Beijing had authorized 25 Brazilian plants to export meat to China, bringing the total up to 89.

China has been Brazil's top trade partner for a decade, Mourao said, adding that Brazil's government will keep the channels of commerce open with a number of projects in mining, oil and logistics for private investment.


"The Chinese have interest, capital and experience to expand and diversify investments in Brazil," Mourao said.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who is recovering from a surgery in Sao Paulo, was likely to visit China in October, Mourao said.

India
Source: theprint.in

Despite the opportunities and great potential, intra-BRICS trade and investment flows are very low. Here are some ways in which this can be fixed.

Preparations are on for the 11th BRICS summit, to be held in Brazil in November 2019. Developments in global trade and protectionist policies provide good reasons for BRICS countries to expedite their trade and investment cooperation. But there are many obstacles.

The way forward can be paved by putting a greater emphasis on increasing private sector and citizen involvement. The BRICS nations need to move towards a bottom-up approach to increase cooperation among them.

This could involve a single BRICS visa, removing visa requirements for member nations, inducing increased collaboration among researchers and orchestrating private sector collaboration.

Multipolar alternative to US-Europe

BRIC — Brazil, Russia, India and China — was formed in 2006 as a coalition of four fast growing countries who supported a multipolar alternative to a US-Europe dominated international financial and governance system. They belonged to three continents and extended their coverage to the African continent by adding South Africa to the association in 2010.

Since 2009, these countries have met annually and increased the scope of their association far beyond the initial effort to new areas such as energy, terrorism and research.

Among the many steps to increase trade and investment among BRICS nations, the most important was the BRICS Development Bank, later named the New Development Bank that was proposed by India at the New Delhi summit in 2012.

It is sometimes felt that the BRICS are too diverse, have little in common and have no shared history. They have emerged merely owing to the coinage of the term BRIC in a Goldman Sachs report in 2001. The association did not die away or become irrelevant, but despite the many steps taken towards greater cooperation, these nations, which represent an emerging economy perspective, did not become a cohesive group.

Economic potential and challenges

The potential for becoming an economically-powerful bloc lies in the fact that the BRICS have about 40 per cent of the world's population, about a fourth of the world's GDP and about a fifth of world trade. The opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment and energy are huge.

The BRICS are globally major players in manufacturing, agriculture and services. These spheres provide opportunities for collaboration. They include two big oil and gas producers, Russia and Brazil, and two big consumers, India and China. They are all regional powers. They feel that their role in global governance is should be bigger. Each stands against a West-dominated international economic and financial system.

Yet, despite the opportunities and the potential, intra-BRICS trade and investment flows are very low. Imports and exports among BRICS nations are low. FDI flows to and from the BRICS are mainly to other countries and not to each other. China dominates whatever little flows happen within the BRICS nations.

Traditional solutions to increasing trade and investment like free trade agreements, investment treaties and a common currency are much discussed among the academic forums. Yet, pre-conditions such as mutual trust are not fulfilled yet.

China's presence in Africa in the energy sector is outside the BRICS. India has concerns about its large trade deficit with China and its Belt and Road initiative.

It is premature to talk about an FTA among member countries when no two members have a bilateral investment treaty. Local currency-denominated trade as a response to dollar-dominated trade is another often-made proposal, but there is no consensus when details are discussed. The Chinese effort to internationalise the renminbi and to replace the dollar for trade will further increase the dominance of China, and is not acceptable to all members.

The way forward

While governments make annual statements on the need to increase cooperation, and how they are committed to increase trade and investment flows, the underlying fundamental state-controlled systems in most of the BRICS nations have restricted discussions of greater trade and investment mainly to top-down initiatives.

The BRICS association has mainly been an inter-governmental system with limited interactions between the private sector and citizens. Government-sponsored think-tanks are unable move away from the state-defined national agenda.

To go forward, the association will have to create common interest groups with shared visions, lobbying for common changes and removal of restrictions. Very different political systems will continue to act as constraints, but there is little that the BRICS as an association can do about that. It has to take these political differences as given and accept the fact that this is likely to imply slower and lower cooperation.

While the vision for the BRICS may be, in the end, an EU-type model with free movement of goods, services, labour and capital, we are a long way from there. Limited resources, increasing trade protectionism, and lack of trust among members make it difficult to reach this destination.

In the meantime, a strategy needs to be developed to increase people-to-people interaction. One initiative to increase private sector and citizen involvement in BRICS as a concept is to encourage bottom-up collaborations. This can be facilitated by allowing collaboration by freeing up movement across the BRICS for businessmen, researchers, tourists, students and ultimately all citizens by easier visa regimes. A single BRICS visa for citizens of the BRICS countries wishing to visit each other can pave the way for removal of visa requirements for BRICS passport holders.

The commitment to collaboration requires this as a first step. It is a necessary condition for creating people-to-people connect and building mutual trust and common interests.

The author is an economist and a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. Views are personal.

Russia
Source: tass.com

BRICS is a fact of life, which does not depend either on any external or internal situations of present day, Viktoria Panova, an expert of the Russian Council on Foreign Affairs said

RIO DE JANEIRO, September 15. /TASS/. Members of the BRICS group (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) show interest in further development of that bloc regardless of possible internal changes within the five nations or due to external factors, Viktoria Panova, an expert of the Russian Council on Foreign Affairs told TASS on Saturday.

"BRICS is a fact of life, which does not depend either on any external or internal situations of present day," she stressed after a meeting of the BRICS council of expert centers. According to the researcher, the partners are showing vivid interest in the contents of Russia's presidency in BRICS prior to the upcoming summit in Brasilia in November.

"No one does even think that the process might be cut short," Panova said.

In this context, the expert noted the experts' encouraging response to Russian proposals in the field of energy cooperation within BRICS. In particular, she meant the further development of BRICS' energy research.

According to Panova, the experts agreed that the ability to "launch in a record time" the work of BRICS bank (the New Development Bank - TASS) also indicates the bloc's efficiency.

"If we could not even think five or seven years ago that such a structure would be set up, now there are no more barriers [for BRICS]. BRICS is indeed capable of creating quickly and effectively the mechanisms that serve the interests of everyone," Panova concluded.

BRICS is an informal assembly of nations. The acronym of BRICS is derived from the first letters in the names of its member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). South Africa joined the bloc in 2011 when it was called BRIC. The bloc aims to develop comprehensive cooperation between its members and is not directed against any third party.

Russia
Source: www.mid.ru

5th Small and Medium-Sized Business Forum of SCO and BRICS Regions


As you know, in 2020, Russia will take over the Presidency of BRICS and the SCO. During the year, our country will hold a series of themed meetings and forums aimed at expanding cooperation in various fields and attracting representatives of interested countries as part of the preparation for both organisations' summits.

In this regard, I would like to mention the 5th Small and Medium-Sized Business Forum of SCO and BRICS Regions, scheduled for September 26-27 in Ufa, Bashkortostan. Over its five-year history, this platform has established itself as an effective mechanism for promoting dialogue between the business community and governments of the BRICS and SCO member states. Since the first Forum in 2015, more than 4,000 participants from 25 countries and 63 regions of Russia have attended the events, and 18 cooperation agreements have been signed.

It is expected that this year, 2,500 people from 30 countries will take part in the Forum, including prominent business leaders, representatives of business associations, government agencies and development institutions. They plan to discuss the conditions for economic growth in various regions of the BRICS and SCO countries: development and support of small businesses, mutually beneficial cooperation, youth entrepreneurship, new digital technologies and tourism.

We invite the media to cover this event. More information on media accreditation and the forum programme is available at https://sco-brics.ru/ru/