BRIC leaders issue their first joint summit statement

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.

Brazil, Russia, India and China held their first formal leaders’ summit amid the financial crisis and called for a more representative world economic order.

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.

After the invitation, South Africa became the fifth member and the forum adopted the name BRICS. Its entry gave Africa a direct place in the leaders’ meetings.