RIO DE JANEIRO, February 22. /TASS/. Russia’s BRICS presidency will promote the association’s closer ties with the Group of Twenty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"This year, Russia is holding BRICS presidency. This format has been supplemented by a number of new members. We will do our best to promote strengthening this structure's potency and its ties with the Group of Twenty," he said during the G20 ministerial meeting.

In this context, Russia "hails its Brazilian friends’ initiative to invite delegates from the New Development Bank to G20 events," he said. "During the summit in New Delhi, G20 members once again unanimously spoke in favor of expanding the representation of developing countries in international economic and financial institutions. We believe that this time these are not empty words but a commitment to take practical steps.".