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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How US policy shifts are creating a historic opportunity for BRICS

The political turbulence in the United States and the crisis of its global leadership are yielding tangible benefits for the BRICS nations, according to Jacobin (Brazil). The pressing need to build a new world order is uniting the Global South, Russia, and even former geopolitical rivals like China and India.

Marco Fernandes and Juliane Furno explore in their article how Donald Trump’s chaotic presidency is producing unexpected outcomes. It is creating new opportunities, compelling the BRICS nations to speed up their integration.

BRICS possesses immense cooperative potential, but it must deliver concrete results. If the group fails to provide tangible benefits to its peoples in the coming years, its legitimacy could be questioned, and it risks becoming merely a counterpart to the G7.

Public backing will also be vital. Should a new national leader decide to exit the group—as Argentine President Javier Milei did—the population might vote to stay. However, this can only happen if people connect #BRICS with an improved quality of life.

The United States acknowledges that its hegemony is under threat. However, it still possesses the resources to attempt to reverse this trend as it has done before, including through military action. On the other hand, its challengers in the Global South have never been as strong as they are today.

📎 Read full-text article in Russian or Portuguese

This article reflects the authors' personal opinion and does not necessarily align with the position of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia.

#OPINION #Brazil #USA

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New reality: BRICS emerges as a global centre for food security

World Bank data shows the global food crisis continues to deepen. The BRICS nations can help address worldwide food shortages by ensuring affordable prices for bread and other food products. The proposed grain exchange is expected to help tackle hunger. However, questions remain: how soon will it start operating, what infrastructure must be created to ensure its efficiency, and how can a balanced framework for future competition policy be established? These are pressing issues that require consistent and coordinated solutions.

The active fight against hunger began roughly 80 years ago. UN experts note the world now produces enough calories to feed everyone. The real challenge is delivering those calories to the countries and regions that need them most. Specialists argue that ensuring food security requires a unified space for trade and logistics, alongside affordable pricing and fair distribution. Much of this can be provided by #BRICS, which has effectively become a global centre for food security.

When it comes to healthy, balanced, and nutrient-rich diets—not just basic sustenance—the situation is even more acute. Over a quarter of the world's population, about 2.6 billion people, cannot afford proper nutrition, largely due to recent food inflation that has affected low-income countries most severely.

According to the World Bank’s Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC 2024), by July 2024 approximately 99.1 million people across 59 countries faced acute food shortages, hunger, and forced migration. Analysts see these figures as a clear sign of a worsening crisis that calls for decisive action.

#NEWS #agriculture

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⏰ TODAY at 11:00 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”.

❓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.

🗣 Report “Beyond the Dollar: BRICS Initiatives for a Multipolar Financial System”

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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HSE CS x BRICS Ideathon

This Sunday, HSE University will host the HSE CS x BRICS Ideathon, an intensive programme for students who would like to develop their skills in international project work and try their hand at solving global problems.

The event is organised by the HSE Multilateral Strategic Projects Office alongside the BRICS Expert Council-Russia in partnership with the Hackathon Club of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science.

✔ Catch up on last year's highlights in this post

📎 Find event programme here

#ANNOUNCEMENT #HSEUniversity #youth

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Russian TVET: contexts, trends, and labour market linkages

CERE TrendWatch is a series publishing concise analytical notes with infographics on key themes in education and skills development across emerging economies. Each issue spotlights major trends and policy insights to inform research and decision-making.

The first issue of CERE TrendWatch presents an overview of Russian vocational education and training, revealing both major structural features and dynamic trends that define the sector today.

The author is Vera Maltseva, Associate Professor, Director of the Centre for Skills Development and Vocational Education at HSE University.

📎 Read the issue

#ANALYTICS #education

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Moscow to host BRICS+ Open Science Week

From 10 to 15 November, Zaryadye Park will host BRICS+ Open Science Week. Residents and visitors to the capital can look forward to lectures by scientists from different countries, film screenings and master classes. Similar events have previously been held in Shenzhen, Rio de Janeiro and Minsk. This was announced by Natalya Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

"Almost 40 events are planned. Participants will learn about modern research in the field of robotics and methods of training neural networks, and will be introduced to the basics of physics, chemistry, botany, geology and other disciplines," said Natalya Sergunina.

#NEWS #science

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In touch with BRICS: news digest

Your quick rundown of the most important BRICS updates

⚪ The Russian Wine Forum will host the first BRICS Wine Summit

⚪ International Municipal BRICS Forum signs over 70 cooperation agreements

⚪ Lukashenko pledges support for India's #BRICS Chairship

⚪ HSE CS x BRICS Ideathon held at HSE University

⚪ Moscow to host BRICS+ Open Science Week

#BRICSExpertCouncilDIGEST

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BRICS in a transforming global political order

Marina Lebedeva, Professor and Head of the Department of World Politics at MGIMO University, explores the challenges confronting BRICS in her recent article. These challenges stem from the world's rapid transformation and the ongoing search for new models of political cooperation.

BRICS faces a pivotal choice: it can continue to engage in global governance as a key node within the existing international network, or it can take on the role of an architect, designing the framework and operating principles for an entirely new global political organisation.

📎 Read full-text article here (in Russian)

#ANALYTICS #politics

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We are glad to share key insights by 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, from his lecture "Tropical Dialogue: Russia and Indonesia in the Rhythm of BRICS" at Inostranka.

⚪Indonesia is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, with roots in the 1955 Bandung Conference.

⚪Its foreign policy follows a "three nos" principle: no military alliances, no foreign bases, and no opposition to other nations.

⚪For a long time, Indonesia hesitated to join BRICS, viewing it as a group opposed to the West.

⚪That perception has now shifted—BRICS is increasingly seen as a platform for dialogue, not an anti-Western alliance.

⚪Currently, Russia-Indonesia trade is enjoying a honeymoon period, with trade volume growing over 30% to reach $3.3 billion.

⚪Key areas that hold the highest potential for Indonesia include food security, energy, infrastructure, and cooperation through the New Development Bank.

#EXPERT #inostranka

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