MOSCOW, August 2. /TASS/. BRICS is an appropriate venue for building a multipolar world and this has inspired Bolivia’s bid to join this union, the country’s Ambassador to Russia Maria Luisa Ramos Urzagaste told TASS.
"These days, tumultuous changes are underway in the world. And they are particularly connected with the emergence of a multipolar world. And we think that BRICS is precisely the venue where we can model and build this multipolar world, because there is democratic dialogue and new organizations and institutions emerge. And we think that Bolivia can share its expertise as a free and independent country," the envoy said replying to a question on the matter.
"We handed this note on our desire to join to all BRICS countries. And then, per BRICS’ decision, the president was invited to the summit. Precisely because we have already submitted an application. And, of course, here (in Moscow - TASS) we handed over the application," she said.
According to her, BRICS countries reacted to the application by inviting Bolivian President Luis Arce to the BRICS summit in South Africa slated for August 22-24. "We are very happy about it, very happy indeed," the envoy concluded.
On July 31, Bolivian Foreign Minister Rogelio Mayta said that on June 12, 2023, Arce officially notified of Bolivia’s intention to join BRICS.
Earlier, Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa, said that about 30 countries were expressing interest in joining the union, with some of them submitting official applications, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt and Ethiopia. India’s Business Standard newspaper, citing sources, said that at the Johannesburg summit, five countries would be accepted into BRICS: Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.