BRICS leaders expect their economic partnership to benefit their citizens and provide solutions to challenges, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.
During his closing remarks at the BRICS summit in Sandton, Joburg on Thursday, 24 August, the president said a wide-ranging BRICS business programme had been put in place leading up to the summit.
This is aimed at attracting investment, promoting collaboration and showcasing opportunities within South Africa, Africa and BRICS countries.
"Through this summit, BRICS has embarked on a new chapter in its effort to build a world that is fair, a world that is just, a world that is also inclusive and prosperous," said Ramaphosa.
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The 15th meeting of BRICS leaders: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, were the first to be hosted in-person since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ramaphosa said the BRICS leaders welcomed the vision of New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff on the role the bank should play in supporting infrastructure and development in Africa and the Global South.
He said they shared the vision of BRICS as a champion of the needs and concerns of the people of the Global South.
"These include the need for beneficial economic growth, sustainable development and the reform of multilateral systems," said the president.
He acknowledged that BRICS is a diverse group of nations with unequal economies: "But it is an equal partnership of countries that have differing views but have a shared vision for a better world."
China's President Xi Jinping congratulated the new countries that joined BRICS.
"It shows the determination of BRICS countries for unity and cooperation, and with the broader developing countries it meets the expectation of the international community and the common interests of emerging market countries and developing countries."
He said the expansion was also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation.
"It will bring new vigour to the BRICS cooperation mechanism, further strengthen the force for World Peace and development," said President Xi. "I am confident as long as we work with a common purpose, there's a lot that BRICS cooperation can achieve, and the future will be bright for BRICS countries. Let us work together to write a new chapter of emerging market countries and developing countries working together in unity for development."
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the opportunity to congratulate Indian scientists who landed on the moon on Tuesday. He said their success was a success for all mankind.
"It's a matter of great pride for us and for the Indian scientists is a time for appreciation and being commended from all across the world," he said.
