NEW DELHI, May 15. /TASS/. Russia is paying special attention to strengthening BRICS cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the BRICS ministerial meeting in New Delhi.

"Given the complex nature of threats to international stability, we are paying special attention to strengthening cooperation within the BRICS framework to combat terrorism, extremism, corruption, and illicit drug trafficking. We are also working to ensure the security of information and communication technologies," he noted at the second plenary session titled "20 Years of BRICS: Joint Efforts for Sustainability, Innovation, Cooperation, and Balanced Development."

Lavrov pointed out that such joint work is particularly relevant given that several countries are exploiting these issues "as a pretext for economic, political, and military pressure on unwelcome governments"