BRICS endorses African development and trade integration

The ministers called for stronger multilateral cooperation and a greater role for emerging and developing countries while addressing public health and security.

At its first meeting, the committee adopted rules and technical procedures for exchanging satellite-observation data under the 2021 agreement.

The virtual summit addressed global governance, public health, sustainable development and cooperation among the five member countries.

The Beijing Declaration called for affordable vaccines, diagnostics and medicines, local production capacity in developing countries and greater readiness for future health emergencies.

The declaration supported discussion of guiding principles, criteria and procedures for possible expansion through the Sherpas. It did not yet admit new BRICS members.

Leaders from BRICS and other developing countries discussed cooperation to implement the UN 2030 Agenda. Participation in the dialogue did not constitute BRICS membership.

At their third meeting, ministers addressed disaster prevention and management capacity and continued exchange on risk reduction.

Egypt deposited its accession instrument and became an effective member of the New Development Bank; its later BRICS invitation was a separate decision.

The bank’s governors unanimously elected the former Brazilian president, effective immediately, to lead its development-finance work.

The eighth annual meeting discussed the bank’s development role and was its first governors meeting at the new headquarters.