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President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira attended a restricted-format meeting of the BRICS Summit.

On the Russian side, the meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Special Presidential Representative for Financial and Economic Cooperation with BRICS States and Interaction with the New Development Bank Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina.

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Opening remarks and beginning of speech by President of Russia at BRICS Summit meeting in restricted format

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

Heads of State,

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends,

I am sincerely delighted to welcome you all to Kazan. Our meeting opens the 16^th BRICS Summit, the first since the group’s enlargement. The centrepiece of Russia’s chairmanship programme, this meeting is themed Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.

I would like to emphasise that Russia has taken a very responsible approach to organising the joint BRICS activities this year.

We have sought to strengthen the group’s influence, enhance its role in global affairs and in addressing pressing global and regional problems. We have done everything possible to deepen multifaceted cooperation between our states in three broad areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian contacts. It goes without saying that we have made every effort to ensure the smooth and fullest possible integration of the new members into our group formats.

Right now, in a restricted format, we suggest considering the most important items on the global agenda and exchange views on cooperation between the BRICS countries in the international arena, including in the resolution of ongoing regional conflicts.

We will also discuss the implementation of two important decisions from our previous summit in Johannesburg. First, I am referring to deeper financial cooperation within BRICS. The other decision, which is equally important, concerns the group’s further expansion. It would certainly be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest in strengthening ties with BRICS displayed by the countries of the Global South and East. Over 30 nations have expressed such aspirations in one form or another. At the same time, it is crucial to maintain balance and ensure that the effectiveness of BRICS mechanisms is not diminished.

In Johannesburg, we agreed to develop modalities for a new category of partner states and to draw up a list of countries eligible for this status. It is important to reflect this decision in the final Kazan Declaration.

Colleagues, if there are no objections regarding the agenda, I declare the restricted meeting of the BRICS Summit open.

I am counting on fruitful work and a traditionally constructive and earnest dialogue on all issues pertinent to our interaction.

As per the established procedure, I would like, as the head of state chairing our group, to be the first to make a statement, after which all other heads of delegations will have their say.

I would like to request that you respect the agreed time limit of seven minutes for your statements. Are we in agreement? Thank you.

So, heads of state, ladies and gentlemen, friends,

We are all witnessing the dynamic growth of BRICS and the strengthening of its authority and influence in global affairs. The BRICS states possess truly immense potential in terms of political power, economy, science, technology, as well as human development. Furthermore, we are united by shared values and a common worldview.

It would be fair to say that BRICS is a group of like-minded sovereign states that represent different continents, development models, religions, and distinctive civilisations and cultures. All our states advocate equality, neighbourliness and mutual respect, the assertion of the noble ideals of friendship and harmony, commonwealth and well-being. We have assumed responsibility for the future of the world not in word but in deed. We are exerting a truly beneficial influence on global stability and security and making a substantial contribution to addressing pressing regional problems.

This is the essence of the BRICS strategy on the global stage, which responds to the aspirations of the largest part of the international community, which we refer to as the global majority. This approach is especially relevant in the current conditions when truly radical changes are underway across the globe, including the shaping of a multipolar world.

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