BRICS trade ministers hold their first meeting

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.

The Sanya summit formally welcomed South Africa in the leaders’ forum and stressed solidarity, development and broader dialogue with emerging and developing countries.

BRICS leaders asked for more representative international institutions, including the UN Security Council, and stronger developing-country voices in economic governance.

Health ministers proposed cooperation and technology transfer to improve access to affordable medicines and other public-health goods.

The five ministers and central bank representatives discussed global instability and called for coordinated solutions and reform of the international financial system.

The ministers discussed trade cooperation and called for a more development-oriented multilateral trading system.