First BRIC leaders’ summit meets in Yekaterinburg

Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China met alongside the UN General Assembly. Their political dialogue turned an economic acronym into a forum for diplomatic coordination.

At their first separate ministerial meeting, the four governments called for multilateral decision making, international law and cooperation on development.

The four leaders met on the margins of the G8 summit in Japan, preparing the way for a stand-alone BRIC summit.

Meeting in São Paulo, the four finance ministers discussed the global crisis and called for reform of international financial governance.

The Horsham communiqué addressed fiscal and financial responses and the need for developing economies to be better represented in international institutions.

The leaders called for reform of international financial institutions, a greater voice for emerging economies and a more diversified monetary system.

At their first meeting in Moscow, agriculture ministers gave particular attention to family farming and food security.

The four leaders met to advance coordination on global governance, trade, development and responses to the financial crisis.

The joint statement called for a multipolar and more equitable world order, greater representation in international finance and continued cooperation against poverty.

Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi spoke with South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane about the agreed invitation, extending the forum’s geographical reach to Africa.