BRICS Aims to Foster Global Harmony and Integration, Welcomes New Members Including Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA — The BRICS cooperation network, representing major emerging economies, aims to foster harmony and deepen integration among the global majority, Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin, articulated during an exclusive interview with ENA. Terekhin’s remarks come in the wake of the group’s strategic expansion, which saw the accession of new members such as Ethiopia, enhancing the coalition’s international presence and economic leverage.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the inclusion of Ethiopia and others is pivotal in strengthening BRICS’ strategic partnerships and its standing on the global stage. He highlighted the significant potential for Ethiopia’s economic integration within the BRICS framework, emphasizing the tangible benefits and the self-evident nature of the figures involved. Terekhin stressed that BRICS operates not on a bloc principle but on foundations of mutual respect, the sovereign right to choose development paths, and adherence to the United Nations Charter’s principle of sovereign equality of states.

The ambassador further elaborated on BRICS’ role in the global economy, noting its members’ contribution to about a quarter of global exports and stating that the group’s combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in terms of purchasing power parity, now surpasses that of the G7 countries, accounting for about one-third of the global tally. Additionally, Terekhin pointed out that BRICS countries encompass 30 percent of the world’s dry land and 45 percent of its population, marking a significant portion of global production in oil and other resources.

BRICS’ approach to global affairs, as Terekhin conveyed, is to form a global agenda that genuinely reflects the interests of the majority, proposing visions for the future world order grounded in reality rather than constrained by artificially constructed impediments to development. He clarified that BRICS initiatives are not coercive but aim to foster equitable dialogue and a balance of interests, covering regional and sub-regional processes across Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America.

This cooperative network’s commitment to promoting global harmony and integration underscores its openness to dialogue and consensus-building among the world’s nations. The recent expansion of BRICS, with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates since January 2024, marks a significant step towards realizing these objectives, further cementing its role as a key player in shaping a balanced and inclusive global order.