Renovation and revitalisation: the renewal formula for BRICS large cities

The BRICS nations are connected not just by an ambitious political and economic alliance, but also by a shared urban challenge. Last year, Chinese authorities launched over 60,000 renovation projects to rejuvenate old neighbourhoods and industrial zones, with total investments reaching 2.9 trillion yuan ($408 billion). In India, the redevelopment of Mumbai's Dharavi District—featured in the Slumdog Millionaire movie—could cost up to $2.4 billion. Meanwhile, Moscow authorities have allocated nearly 1 trillion roubles for housing modernisation between 2024 and 2026.

#BRICS megacities have grown under different urban planning traditions, climates, and socio-economic conditions. Yet they share a long history and rapid economic growth, noted Kirill Puzanov, Associate Professor at the Vysokovsky Graduate School of Urbanism at HSE University. He added that the key challenge today is to preserve the unique heritage and identity of these cities while pushing forward with large-scale modernisation.

📎 Read more on the Vedomosti website (in Russian)

#NEWS #technology

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HSE University maps the future of cities

A three-day International Municipal BRICS Forum 2025 opened in St. Petersburg on October 29. The discussion brought together mayors and representatives from Russian and international city administrations, alongside specialists in urban development and digital governance.

Veronika Minina, Vice Rector at HSE University, presented an expert overview from the Faculty of Urban and Regional Development, outlining several key trends the university identifies for the cities of tomorrow. One of the major trends is continued urbanisation. According to the Faculty's research, by 2050, 75% of the global population will live in cities—including both megacities and smaller towns. For these smaller towns, it is vital to maintain their unique character, promote local identity, support small businesses—especially in folk arts and crafts—and stimulate the creative economy.

The International Municipal BRICS Forum is a communication and business platform that unites representatives from over 70 countries and 2,000 cities and regions worldwide. In 2025, the event is being held in St. Petersburg with support from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Moscow City Government, and the St. Petersburg City Government.

#NEWS #HSEUniversity #business

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1st BRICS STI Framework Programme Innovation Call 2025

One of the BRICS STI Framework Programme a new call for innovation projects: 1st BRICS STI Framework Programme Innovation Call 2025 is established.

The BRICS STI Framework Programme aims to promote research, development and innovation in the main areas of cooperation among the institutions in the consortia which consist of partners from at least two of the BRICS countries.

🔥 Submission deadline: December 3, 2025
📎 For more information, please visit the website

#ANNOUNCEMENT #innovation

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📆 ANNOUNCEMENT: On November 7 at 16:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Discussion Club will host a presentation of the report titled “Beyond the Dollar: BRICS Initiatives for a Multipolar Financial System”.

The report emphasises the growing dysfunctionality of the US dollar as a universal means of payment, caused by its use as a weapon in the sanctions war, as well as the structural weaknesses of the American economy and the colossal national debt of the United States.

Particular attention is also given to BRICS’ potential in the financial and monetary spheres. In recent years, the use of national currencies in payments between members has increased within the group. Other initiatives are also being discussed. The report examines not only the prospects but also the limitations of creating non-dollar monetary instruments both in BRICS and in other globally dominant countries.

❓How will US President Donald Trump’s policies and high tariffs against BRICS countries impact the de-dollarisation process?
❓How can internal solidarity be strengthened within BRICS?
❓What was the focus of the September extraordinary online BRICS summit, convened at the initiative of Brazil?

Participants in the discussion will attempt to answer these and other questions.

🎙️ Speakers:

🇧🇷 Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr., Vice-President of the New Development Bank (2015–2017); Managing Director for Brazil and Other Countries at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2007–2015) (author of the report)

🇿🇦 Rasigan Maharajh, Chief Director, Tshwane University of Technology; Associate Research Fellow, Tellus Institute; Trustee, Canon Collins Trust; Elected Member, Academy of Science of South Africa.

🇨🇦 Radhika Desai, Professor at the Department of Political Studies and Director, Geopolitical Economy Research Group, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Visiting Professor in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics

Moderator:

🗣 Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

https://valdaiclub.com/events/announcements/valdai-club-presents-the-report-beyond-the-dollar-brics-initiatives-for-a-multipolar-financial-syste/

Working languages: Russian, English.

ℹ️ Information for the media: In order to get accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our web site. If you have any questions about the event, please call +79269307763.

Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen.

#WorldMajority_WorldOrder #dedollarisation

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On October 31, a roundtable discussion titled “Civil Society Participation in BRICS” was held as part of the IX BRICS Conference. The event was organised by the BRICS Study Group at the University of São Paulo and focused on sustainable development, youth diplomacy, and people-to-people cooperation within the BRICS framework.

Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, Vice Rector at HSE University, and Sherpa of Russia in W20, outlined the history of the Civil BRICS Track:

The engagement of civil society within such intergovernmental formats has a discernible historical trajectory. Russia pioneered this format in the G7/G8, with a key precedent set in 2006 when Russian NGOs met with all national sherpas.

This legacy led to the first BRICS Civil Forum in 2015, which brought together civil society representatives to discuss priorities and urge governments to address public needs. While governmental support was later secured, the format has faced some challenges, such as its suspension in 2019.

A pivotal achievement came in 2023 with the official launch of the Civil BRICS Council, a permanent mechanism endorsed in the Kazan Declaration. Its legitimacy was cemented in 2024 when a representative addressed BRICS leaders directly.

According to Dr Panova, Civil BRICS is distinctively bottom-up and people-centric, ensuring the group remains a society-driven platform, not a closed diplomatic club. Future priorities must focus on implementation, requiring sustainable projects with tangible impact and robust financing. Expanding engagement to partner countries is also crucial for strengthening the BRICS community.

The roundtable also featured:
Raymond Matlala, Founder and Executive Chairman of the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA)
Fabiano Mielniczuk, Professor of Political Science at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Research Member of NEBRICS
Ivan Kryazhev, Deputy Director for International Affairs at the “Knowledge Diplomacy” Consulting Centre for NPOs and NGOs at the Russian State University for the Humanities

📎 Follow this link to watch the session video

#NEWS #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #CivilBRICS

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In touch with BRICS: news digest

Top stories shaping BRICS the previous week—stay informed in minutes

⚪Russia announces Malaysia's readiness to join BRICS

⚪HSE student takes first place in BRICS Marathon League 2025

⚪Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia meets participants of BRICS International School: New Generation

⚪Renovation and revitalisation: the renewal formula for BRICS large cities

⚪HSE University maps the future of cities

⚪Civil society participation in BRICS+

#BRICSExpertCouncilDIGEST

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China Intensifies Efforts to Promote 'Green' Trade With BRICS and Key Multilateral Platforms

Over 50 countries have already endorsed China's framework initiative on international trade and economic cooperation in the digital economy and 'green' development, Deputy Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang said.

The deputy also noted that:

🟠Beijing diligently meets commitments by progressively reducing tariffs on products listed in the APEC list of environmental goods to below 5%.

🟠The country also incorporated provisions on environmentally clean trade into memoranda of understanding aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in trade facilitation, signed with countries including South Africa.

🟢 The transition to an ecological model is an "important trend in development and a stimulus for global economic growth," but this process faces challenges due to protectionism by some countries, he stressed.

At the 32nd informal APEC leaders’ meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to digitize cross-border trade and enhance international cooperation in clean industries.

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The Russian Wine Forum will host the first BRICS Wine Summit

The BRICS Wine Summit will be held for the first time as part of the Russian Wine Forum, where issues related to the effective development of interstate cooperation between winemakers, grape growers, and representatives of the wine tourism sector in BRICS countries will be discussed, according to the Russian Vinegrowers And Winemakers Association.

"The BRICS Wine Summit will be held for the first time at the Russian Wine Forum. Winemakers and wine traders from the intergovernmental association will meet in Moscow on November 12," the statement said.

The organisers said that the meeting will discuss issues of effective development of interstate cooperation between winemakers, winegrowers, and representatives of the wine tourism sector of the #BRICS countries.

#NEWS

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International Municipal BRICS Forum signs over 70 cooperation agreements

The International Municipal BRICS Forum in St. Petersburg concluded with the signing of more than 70 cooperation agreements. Representatives of municipalities from 75 countries took part in the event. The TV BRICS International Media Network served as the forum’s international media partner.

The discussions focused on issues of financial and economic cooperation, the development of digital technologies, and youth policy. Participants agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation among #BRICS countries and their partners through urban diplomacy, joint projects in the field of creative industries, and cultural exchange.

The Moscow City Government served as the General Partner of the International Municipal BRICS Forum 2025. The forum was held with the support of the Federation Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Government of St. Petersburg, the Moscow City Duma, the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Roscongress Foundation.

#NEWS #Forum #finance #technology #politics

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Lecture "Tropical Dialogue: Russia and Indonesia in the Rhythm of BRICS" at Inostranka

We would like to remind you that on this Saturday a lecture titled "Tropical Dialogue: Russia and Indonesia in the Rhythm of BRICS" will be held at the BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Centre.

This lecture will explore the rich history and contemporary dynamics of Indonesia—the world's largest island nation and a new #BRICS member.

Speaker: Alexander Korolev, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS) and Associate Professor at the School of International Relations under the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE University @askorolev1993

📎 More information on the website

🔥 November 8, 2025 | 1 PM (UTC +3)

#ANNOUNCEMENT #inostranka

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Lukashenko pledges support for India's BRICS Chairship

Belarus is ready to do everything necessary to ensure India's successful BRICS Chairship in 2026, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Ashok Kumar.

"We are ready to work with you under your Chairship in BRICS and are prepared to do everything necessary to ensure your chairship is a success. We are grateful to you for the assistance and support you provided us with during our accession to the #SCO, as well as for the partnership within #BRICS. We gladly rely on your help and support. And you have never refused us this help and support," the President said.

#NEWS #Belarus

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