MOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/. African countries are keen to join the work of BRICS and interested in the format of cooperation with the group, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who also serves as special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, told TASS in an interview following the First Ministerial Conference Russia-Africa.

"Of course, all are interested, naturally, interested. This is a fact. They said here at the conference that they would like to be provided the format or the form of joining the work. This is being discussed, of course," he said when commenting on African countries’ interest in BRICS.

The first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was held on November 9-10 in the Sirius Federal Territory on Russia’s Black Sea coast. The event was attended by about 1,500 delegates, including over 40 ministers from African countries.