Representatives of the BRICS countries held a meeting last week to prepare for their next meeting to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, exchanging views on current challenges in strategic areas such as food and water security, energy security, counter-terrorism, and cyber security, among other issues, reaching a broad consensus.
They agreed that in the face of the various problems, the BRICS countries should promote the spirit that animates them, supporting multilateralism, seeking to build an increasingly multipolar and decentralised world, opposing unilateral condemnations, and jointly combating the violence that manifests itself as terrorism, extremism, and transnational crime.
They also committed to jointly addressing global challenges such as climate change, cyber security and food security, promoting reform of the global governance system, enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries, and promoting the democratisation of international relations.
The parties also agreed to strengthen dialogue, consultation, solidarity, and cooperation, to support South Africa in organising the BRICS Summit, and to promote cooperation of member countries.
They invited the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, to make a presentation on 24 August in South Africa on the achievements of the Bolivian economic model, which has allowed Bolivia to move towards import-substitution industrialisation and an open, transparent, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system.
Bolivia held meetings and démarches with India, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and China, expressing interest in joining the group. On 12 June, President Arce officially communicated Bolivia’s willingness to join the BRICS countries.