🇪🇺 🤍 Russia's Sochi hosts symposium on cooperation between BRICS+, EU with lawmakers taking part

In the wake of the last week's #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum's ministerial conference, the Russian resort city is hosting the symposium "The Role of the State, Science and Society in the Development of Socioeconomic Cooperation between BRICS+ and European Countries and Organizations".

According to the organizers, the event with the participation of MPs from the EU is intended to "open a new page" in relations with constructive socio-political forces in Europe.

💬 "Since the beginning of the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region, the symposium in Sochi will be the first serious attempt to gather lawmakers from Russia, the EU countries, and BRICS Plus countries at one table for a frank but constructive conversation about what unites us, not what divides us," the press release said.

"This is an icebreaker event that opens the way to restoring a full-fledged inter-parliamentary and public dialogue between the East and West of Europe, and through it between the political West and the Global South," it added.

The organizers are the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the public organization "International BRICS Forum".

The event continues a series of events within the framework of the Russian presidency of the association.

Among the invited guests from the EU are members of the European Parliament from Greece, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as lawmakers from the national legislative bodies of Bulgaria, Germany, Serbia and other countries, the organizers said.

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Ecological Female Projects Award: One month remains until the deadline

“Green Future” Ecological Female Projects Award by the Council of the Eurasian Women's Forum is the first international competition of women's projects in the field of ecology and sustainable development in the BRICS nations.
The deadline for submissions is December 🕊🕊.

Replicating successful eco-projects in the #BRICS nations, identifying global corporate practices in the areas of ecology and sustainable development, and generating opportunities for the development of environmental initiatives are the main goals of the competition.

It is also meant to strengthen a women's international community that helps to improve the sustainability and environmental well-being of the BRICS countries, as well as to fortify international collaboration in the field of ecology.

The “Green Future” competition is open to women from the BRICS nations who carry out their own ecological and environmental preservation projects. You are welcome to apply on the official website till December 16.

The Council of the Eurasian Women's Forum, with the assistance of Rosatom State Corporation, sponsored a competition for women's environmental ideas on September 18 on the margins of the Eurasian Women's Forum.
The competition's official partner is the BRICS-Russia Expert Council.

#EVENTS #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #ecology #sustainability

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Southeast Asia's Strategic Interest in BRICS: The Impact of a Trump Presidency

The world is poised for a challenging phase in global economic relations with Donald Trump's impending presidency, and analysts suggest that BRICS could provide a stabilising counterbalance. Amid rising geopolitical tensions in an increasingly divided world, certain Southeast Asian countries are showing a significant interest in integrating with BRICS.

Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam have recently attained partner status with BRICS, but their aspirations for full membership vary. This divergence highlights a mix of unique national objectives and broader regional interests, analysts told CNA. 

Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding US economic policies under Trump's administration may prompt more Southeast Asian nations to express interest in joining #BRICS as a strategic safeguard.

Jamil Ghani, a doctoral candidate at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, remarked,

“This Trump 2.0 presidency could push Southeast Asian countries to explore closer ties with BRICS, motivated by concerns over US economic policies.”

He added that Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand could potentially see BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) as a “crucial alternative for infrastructure and development funding, which is important to their growth agendas”. 

Ian Storey, a senior fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, noted that Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand have all announced that they will seek full membership of BRICS:

“That suggests they are comfortable with the direction in which BRICS is moving and see economic and geopolitical advantages in being full members. Vietnam, on the other hand, is being more cautious. For the time being it is content to remain a BRICS partner.”

He added that Hanoi is a bit wary that if BRICS takes on a more anti-Western slant this could impair its relations with the US and the European Union, its two biggest export markets.

Analysts also argue that Malaysia and Indonesia could potentially be driven more by political motivations and the foreign policy approach of their respective leaders to join the bloc. 

CNA delves deeper into how Southeast Asian nations perceive BRICS and explores the reasons some may still opt for a cautious approach to engaging with BRICS.

#OPINION #USA #Asia #Indonesia #Malaysia #Thailand #Vietnam #diplomacy

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BRICS Working Group for the Research of Competition Issues to be held in Rio de Janeiro

On November 22, 2024, Rio de Janeiro will host a meeting of the BRICS Working Group for the Research of Competition Issues in Digital Markets, convened under Russia's 2024 BRICS Chairship.

The co-chairs of the Working Group are the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (FAS Russia) and Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense.

This meeting will focus on critical aspects of competition policy and antitrust regulations within the digital economy. Participants will analyse emerging trends and initiatives related to competition protection and development in digital markets across the #BRICS nations.

The event will bring together representatives from competition authorities, academics, and experts, fostering a thorough discussion on competition issues pertinent to digital markets within BRICS countries.

As the concluding event under Russia's BRICS Chairship for 2024, this meeting will serve to encapsulate the outcomes of the year's work by the BRICS competition authorities and delineate plans for future collaborative activities.

#EVENTS #Brazil #digital #economy

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Constructive cooperation with Russia essential for European countries - German analyst
 
Constructive cooperation with Russia is essential for European countries, Alexander von Bismarck, founder of Bismarck Dialog, a Russian-German public project, told Sputnik.

“We [Europe] need cooperation with Russia. We need to talk together. And when Brussels and the EU can't do this, the countries of the EU have to do this, such as France or Germany,” noted the businessman and public figure.

Bismarck was a guest speaker on "The role of public institutions in smoothing out geopolitical tensions in the modern world" at the symposium on cooperation between BRICS and the EU hosted by Russia’s Sirius Federal Territory.

“We [Germany] are in the best position to talk to the Russians because we have been friends for so many years,” he underscored. He added that “we had many conversations together, and we need this for the BRICS future.”

“When Germany and Russia come together, it will serve to help Europe,” stressed Bismarck.

Within the framework of the Russian presidency of BRICS, the city of Sochi played host to the symposium under the motto "The Role of the State, Science and Society in the Development of Socioeconomic Cooperation between BRICS+ and European Countries and Organizations".

Members of the European Parliament from Greece, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as lawmakers from the national legislative bodies of Bulgaria, Germany, Serbia and other countries, were among the invited guests.

The organizers touted it as “an icebreaker event that opens the way to restoring a full-fledged inter-parliamentary and public dialogue between the East and West of Europe, and through it between the political West and the Global South."

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BRICS Pay: A Challenge to the SWIFT Network

Last month, the BRICS nations convened for the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, with an expanded membership that sparked discussions on economic collaboration. During the summit, Russia reiterated its calls for the development of a new international payment system. The joint declaration released at the summit encouraged the "strengthening of correspondent banking networks within BRICS and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative (BCBPI)."

The opinion about the initiative is in the article by the Lowy Institute.

This initiative, referred to as BRICS Pay, aims to establish a decentralised and independent payment messaging system for member countries to trade with one another using their own currencies. Russia, a founding member, is advocating strongly for BRICS Pay as a means to bypass SWIFT. However, interest in the project is widespread among other member nations. Many view BRICS Pay as a pathway towards achieving de-dollarisation and reducing reliance on American financial dominance. Brazil, for instance, is fully on board, with President Lula da Silva emphasising the need for a new payment system that reflects the multipolar order they aspire to in the international financial landscape. Notably, in 2023, he even proposed the idea of a unified BRICS currency.

The BRICS alliance is well-positioned to develop this new banking network. They already possess the necessary technological infrastructure to support this initiative. Russia's Mir payment system, India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI), and China's WePay and AliPay provide strong foundations for the establishment of BRICS Pay.

If BRICS Pay gains traction, it could emerge as a formidable tool against the Western-centric financial order. Currently, #BRICS represents 35.4% of the global economy and accounts for around 45% of the world’s population. By facilitating trade in local currencies, BRICS Pay could significantly undermine the dominance of the US dollar.

#OPINION #finance #economics

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Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin's meeting at BRICS Summit strengthens China-Russia relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS Summit in Kazan has established a strategic foundation for advancing bilateral relations.

Wang made these remarks to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during discussions on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. He emphasised that China is prepared to collaborate with Russia to enhance cooperation and unity, thereby contributing to the steady progress of their comprehensive strategic partnership and supporting the development and revival of both nations as well as reforming the global governance system.

Wang also highlighted the importance of working with #BRICS partners to implement the outcomes of the Kazan summit, extend and strengthen the BRICS framework, and amplify the influence of the Global South in the multipolar world.

#NEWS #China #RussiaChina

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📹 BRICS helps fight attempts to introduce a neo-colonial system, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

India is facing unprecedented pressure, sometimes unpardonable pressure, coming from the United States — isn't it an attempt to introduce a new colonial system, Peskov wondered.

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Turkey's aspiration to join BRICS: Erdogan emphasises need for preparations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey remains keen on joining BRICS but must first ensure that everything is in order before officially announcing its intention.

"We continue work on joining BRICS. When this work is over, we will inform the association about its results," as reported by TRT Haber television channel following the Group of Twenty summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Earlier, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat revealed that Turkey had received an invitation to join BRICS as either a partner nation or an associated member. Erdogan also participated in the #BRICS summit held in Kazan in October.

#NEWS #Turkey

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