BRICS Summit 2024: Global Leaders Gather in Kazan, Russia, to Foster Cooperation and Drive Global Development

BRICS Summit 2024: Global Leaders Gather in Kazan, Russia, to Foster Cooperation and Drive Global Development

In a significant gathering of international leaders, the 16th BRICS summit is set to take place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. The summit promises to be a pivotal event, bringing together leaders from 24 countries to discuss pressing global issues, promote cooperation, and drive economic growth.

According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the leaders of 24 countries have confirmed their participation in the summit. The impressive lineup includes:

- Heads of State:

    - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

    - President of China Xi Jinping

    - President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan

    - President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa

    - President of Brazil Lula da Silva

    - President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian

    - President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

    - President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

    - President of Bolivia Luis Arce

    - President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh

    - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

    - President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith

- Representatives:

    - Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia

    - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin

    - Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed

    - Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

    - Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

    - Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim

- Special Guests:

    - Special spokesperson for Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto

    - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

    - Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Ming

    - State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev

    - President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold approximately 20 bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the summit, starting October 21. These meetings aim to strengthen diplomatic ties and foster cooperation between Russia and participating nations.

The summit will focus on two key themes:

1. Strengthening Multilateralism: Equitable global development and security will be at the forefront of discussions, with leaders exploring ways to promote cooperation and address pressing global challenges.

2. BRICS and the Global South: Jointly building a better world will be explored, with a focus on promoting economic growth, sustainable development, and social justice.

This year's summit is particularly notable, as it follows the expansion of BRICS membership to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, effective January 1, 2024. The expanded membership is expected to enhance the bloc's global influence and promote cooperation among emerging economies.

The BRICS summit has become a significant platform for global leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue and cooperation. As the international community faces numerous challenges, the summit offers a unique opportunity for nations to come together and work towards a more equitable and prosperous future.