🇧🇴 🌐 BRICS nations should become leaders of multipolar world amid decline of Western countries, the Bolivian president says

"There is a bloc that is in decline and another bloc that needs to consolidate. This time no country will have global hegemony and I think BRICS represents this multipolarity. They represent a few countries that, when united in a bloc, will gain strength and be able to coordinate their policies to improve the quality of life of their populations," Luis Arce told the Brazilian news outlet O Globo.

After the last BRICS summit in October, Bolivia received an invitation to join the group's partners, and the country has "invested heavily" in this membership, the Bolivian president emphasized.

"There is a power struggle going on in the world at the moment, and the outcome of this struggle will have a huge impact, as it happened in other periods of history," he noted.

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🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks during a meeting with participants of the Dialogue for the Future scientific and educational programme

📍 Moscow, November 25, 2024

💬 First, I would like to thank our colleagues from the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund for their consistent efforts in carrying out this work and expanding its scope. Second, it is gratifying to know that this initiative is gaining success not only among our neighbours, where we have many friends, comrades, and family ties, but also in the countries that lie farther from the Russian Federation, such as Africa and the Americas. 

We are keen on ensuring that young people know the truth. We have always emphasised our push to present an objective view of Russia and to promote an accurate perception of our country. I’m strongly opposed to the idea of us saying that we aim to create a positive image of Russia. No one is without fault. However, objectivity is now more necessary than ever for everyone who contemplates the future of humanity, their own country, and their destiny. <...>

A multipolar world order is taking shape. Statistics is a stern discipline. For several years now, it has been telling us that the aggregate GDP of #BRICS countries has been significantly outpacing the aggregate numbers of the G7 in terms of purchasing power parity, even more so after the group has recently expanded. This gap continues to widen. The remarkable interest in BRICS which we observed during the recent summit in Kazan speaks volumes. 

We have already held two #RussiaAfrica summits, with the second one taking place in St Petersburg in 2023. Following the decisions made at that summit, two weeks ago in Sochi, at the Sirius centre, I had the honour of hosting the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. Increasingly, calls are coming from Africa to fully utilise what it has been given by God and to overcome the remnants of colonial exploitation, which, unfortunately, still persist. <...>

❗️African, Latin American, and Asian countries are calling for justice. When Western nations suggest that others remain in their system of globalisation because they had created it, because the dollar is seen as a universal asset, property is sacred, the presumption of innocence is in place and fair competition supposedly reigns – those times have long ago sunk into oblivion. <...>

Naturally, there is a competitive process for securing the legitimate positions of all countries and regions within the global economy. This is also evident on the vast, rapidly growing, and densely populated Eurasian continent. It is in Eurasia, especially within the Asia-Pacific region, that the key processes shaping the future of the world economy are taking place. Consequently, as soon as opportunities for accelerated growth emerge, security challenges also arise in these regions. <...>

We are now focused on building a material foundation for Eurasia. An agreement between the #EAEU, the #SCO, and #ASEAN is already in place. We are inviting the GCC or any other Eurasian entity to join the dialogue in order to develop the best and effective logistical routes, payment platforms, and supply chains which will be independent of those who once touted the US dollar as a global asset, only to weaponise when they found it convenient.

<...>

The Northern Sea Route is receiving significant interest, not just from Arctic countries, but also from strategic partners like China and India which are joining these projects. This will create a new configuration for the international transport network with global-scale consequences and significant cost savings for global trade. <...>

☝️We consider the Eurasian model as open to all countries and associations of the entire continent, including its western part.

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🇷🇺🌍 The Russian nuclear energy company's renewed partnership with Africa to provide energy solutions for the continent, Rosatom's official says

🗣 "I think there was a bit of a hiatus and we're [Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom] now coming back to Africa. And I think Africa sees the potential of working closely with Russia in terms of solving some of the energy worries," Rosatom CEO in Central and South Africa Ryan Collyer told Sputnik Africa.

⚛️ Russia and Africa now have an opportunity to restore a strong relationship in the nuclear sphere that they had during the USSR era, the company's official noted.

🗣 "Renewable energy, some fossil fuels will be required […], and I think nuclear [energy] really will play a key role in providing Africa with the energy that is required to bolster an industry, bolster economies," the speaker said, highlighting the importance of Rosatom's work on the continent.

He also emphasized Rosatom's global leadership in nuclear power plant exports due to its long-standing reputation as a trusted partner and advanced technology.

🤝 BRICS cooperation could also provide creative and innovative nuclear energy solutions, including in Africa, as the alliance's countries account for a significant portion of the world's operational and under-construction nuclear power plants, making the bloc a unique platform for nuclear energy sector development, Collyer added.

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🇷🇺🌐 The world is moving towards a new security system involving the Global South and East, the Russian official says

"Today's meeting is taking place in the context of a fundamental restructuring of the world order. The BRICS summit recently held in Kazan confirmed this. A multipolar political and economic space is being formed and a new, 'inclusive' system of international security is being created with the participation of countries of the Global South and East," Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), said during the conference of Heads of Security and Intelligence Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The FSB chief added that the collective West, led by the US, strives to maintain its dominance and continue its predatory colonial policy.

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#BRICS2024

🎙 Opening remarks by Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia's Sherpa in BRICS Sergey Ryabkov at the BRICS Sherpas/Sous Sherpas Meeting in Yekaterinburg, Russia (November 27, 2024)

Key talking points:

• Let me particularly welcome the two new BRICS Sous Sherpas — esteemed Ms. Paula Barboza from Brazil and Ms. Lemlem Fiseha Minale from Ethiopia. I think we will benefit from their great experience and great capabilities they showed on their previous assignments.

• In BRICS, we work in a very close, pro-active and constructive manner. This is the last Sherpas/Sous Sherpas Meeting under the Russian Chairmanship. This year we have achieved great results together. There has been significant progress on all three pillars of our cooperation: policy and security, economy and finance, humanitarian and people-to-people contacts.

• We have some solid deliverables. In particular, the agreement to establish BRICS Grain Exchange, the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, the Working Group on Nuclear Medicine. A transport dialogue was launched.

• We have important developments on the finance track — particularly, on establishing independent and sustainable payment mechanisms with specific focus on the use of national currencies. A milestone achievement is the BRICS Partner Category.

• Amid increasing tensions in international relations, worsening long-standing political and economic problems, growing danger of new challenges and threats, BRICS stood strong and focused, its fortitude has been ever more strengthened with the expansion — this was clearly manifested at the XVI Summit in Kazan, in particular, at the BRICS Plus/Outreach session. This confirmed that BRICS is now perceived as a driving force of global transformation for a more just and multipolar world order based on respect for legitimate interests and sovereign choice of countries and peoples, respect for international law.

👉 The Kazan Declaration turned out to be very complex and forward-looking document. It lays a long-term foundation of the development of cooperation between our countries in expanded BRICS.

• I would like to thank you, dear colleagues, for your constructive approach, assistance and support to the Russian Chairmanship. We are greatful for the attention to the initiatives and proposals of the Chair, aimed at deepening and diversifying the cooperation in the BRICS format.