BRICS Leaders reach consensus to add six countries to BRICS bloc

Consensus has been reached to add countries on the waiting list to join the BRICS family comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

This comes following the announcement of the adopted Johannesburg II Declaration that encompasses various issues that led to guiding principles of BRICS expansion of countries that want to become full members of the BRICS bloc.

Briefing the media at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg where the 15th BRICS Summit has entered the last day of the three-day summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that leaders of the BRICS bloc have decided to invite Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become full members of the bloc with effect from January 1, 2024.

“The five leaders of BRICS have reached a consensus to admit new full members into the BRICS family, as BRICS is diverse group that shares same vision for a better world,” says Ramaphosa.

“This summit reaffirmed the importance of BRICS people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing mutual understanding friendship and cooperation. We adopted the Johannesburg II Declaration which reflects key BRICS messages on matters of global economic, financial and political importance,” adds Ramaphosa highlighting the shared values and common interest that underpin mutual cooperation benefiting the five BRICS countries.

Ramaphosa said adoption of new members to BRICS will have shared needs for beneficial economic growth, sustainable development and reform of multilateral systems.

Leading up to the summit, Ramaphosa speaking on behalf of distinguished Presidents from Brazil, China, India and Russia, he said there was a wide-ranging BRICS business forum attended by over 1 500 business people from the bloc and across the globe.

He said the summit was aimed at attracting investment opportunities, promoting collaboration and showcasing opportunities in African continent and in BRICS countries.

“We also had an opportunity to receive a report from the head of New Development Bank (NDB), Dilma Rousseff on the vision and the role of the bank and the role it intends to play to support infrastructure and sustainable development in Africa and the Global South,” emphasis Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa added that the summit appreciates the progress made over last year in the field of media, youth, education, civil society, sports & culture and academic exchanges.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the BRICS Business Council, Ramaphosa said leaders of BRICS welcomed subsequent recommendations from the Business Council and the work of BRICS Women’s Alliance in their first in-person engagement with the leaders of BRICS.

Ramaphosa endorsed participation of youth representatives at the summit and expectations of BRICS partnership to generate tangible benefits and deliver viable solutions for common challenges faced by communities in the Global South.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil along with other leaders of the BRICS, said additional of new members to the bloc will push the Gross domestic product (GDP) to 37% globally, while Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised that expansion is historic and important for cooperation mechanism adding that new members will give energy and momentum to the bloc.