BRICS states agree on list of group's partner countries

On the final day of the XVI BRICS summit in Kazan on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a press conference to sum up the results of the summit and the Russian presidency in the group.

He said that the BRICS states had agreed on a list of countries to be invited as partners of the association.

"We will send invitations and proposals to future partner countries to participate in our work in such a capacity and upon receiving a positive response we will announce already who is on this list," Putin said.

The Russian leader added that some states that attended the summit have handed over requests for full participation in the BRICS agenda.

The Russian president was also asked whether there are plans to create a payment system within BRICS that would be an alternative to the existing ones. He emphasised that the group will deepen interbank communication and create independent mechanisms for mutual settlements in national currencies.

In addition, Putin noted that the Russian side proposed to extend Brazil's chairmanship in the BRICS New Development Bank.

Summing up the summit, the head of state said that delegations from 35 states and six international organisations took part in the meeting in Kazan.

"Such a broad representation clearly shows the authority and role of BRICS and the growing interest in cooperation with us on the part of the states that actually pursue a truly independent, sovereign policy," Putin said.

The day before, on Wednesday, the final Kazan declaration was adopted at the end of the XVI BRICS summit meetings. In it, the leaders of the countries of the association supported the "Modalities of BRICS Partner Country Category".

TV BRICS