PRETORIA, June 20. /TASS/. The summit of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to be held this week will open a new era of global development, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.
"More broadly, this week’s summit aims to usher in a new era for global development that is more inclusive, sustainable and fair," he said in his weekly address to the South African people, the text of which was published on the presidential administration's website, "Through the reform of the multilateral system, including the United Nations, and by refocusing the attention and resources of the global community on the sustainable development agenda, the BRICS group can support a sustained and equitable global recovery [from the coronavirus pandemic]."
For South Africa, Ramaphosa said, the BRICS summit is a valuable platform to strengthen ties with partner countries in support of South Africa's economic growth and job creation. "More than that, the summit is our opportunity to contribute to a better world, in which all countries have a better chance to recover from this pandemic and to flourish," he stressed.
The South African president pointed out that the BRICS countries initially identified strengthening economic and financial ties as one of the key areas of their cooperation. "The countries have adopted the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership to increase access to each other’s markets, promote mutual trade and investment and create a business-friendly environment for investors in all BRICS countries," Ramaphosa pointed out, "An important part of this strategy, particularly for South Africa, is to diversify trade <...>".
The 14th BRICS summit will be held by videoconference on June 23. Its agenda includes promotion of global development, discussion of global economic problems and strengthening the role of developing countries. This year, the BRICS is chaired by China. South Africa joined the BRICS in February 2011.