Sergey Lavrov. Image credit: the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/TASS
MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) - The fact that around 30 countries seek closer engagement with BRICS highlights the promising future of the integration group of global players, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, TASS has reported.
Being a supra-national global structure, BRICS "encapsulates the richness of multipolar world,"the minister noted.
Sergey Lavrov described the decision at last year's summit in South Africa to expand the number of BRICS members as a particularly important step towards strengthening the BRICS' position on the international stage.
"Russia, which took over the BRICS chairmanship on 1 January, will pay attention to ensuring that the newcomers fit seamlessly into our common work and thus contribute to strengthening positive trends not only inside BRICS but also internationally, meeting the interests of the global majority," the Russian foreign minister stressed.
He also assured that Russia will continue to promote the ideals of justice and truth in international relations in order to make them more democratic.
