Iran, Russia Discuss Cooperation in BRICS
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ranking diplomats from Iran and Russia weighed plans for closer cooperation between the two states within the framework of BRICS, which Iran will officially join in January 2024.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mahdi Safari and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov held a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday for talks on economic interaction between the two countries.
The Russian diplomat, who is also his country's special envoy for BRICS affairs, congratulated Iran on its membership in the grouping.
He also pointed to the beginning of Russia's rotating presidency of BRICS as of January 1, 2024, as well as Moscow’s priorities regarding BRICS during its tenure.
Ryabkov also presented a detailed report on the history and background of BRICS’ actions, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
Safari, for his part, described the activities of BRICS as very large-scale and diverse.
He noted that Iran is firmly resolved to play an active role in the group, adding that the Foreign Ministry of Iran will do its best to play an effective and constructive role in BRICS.
Safari and Ryabkov further exchanged views about the activities of the organization in the economic, financial, trade, energy, transportation, parliamentary, agriculture, new technologies, scientific-research, health, IT, environment, aerospace, sports and cultural sectors, youth affairs as well as the development of BRICS in future.
BRICS was formed by and initially consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which collectively represent around 40% of the global population and a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Iran, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were officially invited to join BRICS when the group’s leaders met for their annual summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in late August.
