African leaders at the BRICS conference, which is now taking place in Russia, discussed Wednesday what they believe to be significant global challenges.
Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have joined the coalition, which began with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Turkey have formally applied to join, and numerous additional nations have expressed interest in doing the same.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated, “International developments have demonstrated that the shortcomings of the current international system extend beyond political and security issues to include economic and development issues.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a reform of the World Trade Organization and the “recalibration of trade rules to enable industrialization.” “We must intensify cooperation amongst BRIC members by launching common development programs in the fields of exports, industrial cooperation, and technology exchange,” he said. He also identified the “escalation of the debt problem and the lack of necessary funding” as two issues impeding developing countries’ rapid economic growth.
Ramaphosa, who insisted on an immediate ceasefire and the acknowledgment of Palestinian self-determination, also voiced worry over the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza and the Middle East.
Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia, proposed reforming the United Nations Security Council, another international body.
“By working together, we can support reforms that tackle the issues facing developing countries and guarantee that their opinions are heard on the international scene,” he stated.
This goes beyond representation alone. Justice, equity, and making sure that every country can participate in global governance are the main concerns.
At a time when the West is trying to isolate Moscow for its activities in Ukraine, the three-day summit is the biggest assembly of world leaders to meet in Russia in decades.
(AP)
