MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Venezuela wants to become a full-fledged member of BRICS as soon as possible, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

"The issue [of Venezuela’s entering BRICS as a partner country - TASS] will be discussed next year in Russia as part of the BRICS summit. Venezuela would like to become the full-fledged member of this association as soon as possible," the foreign minister said.

BRICS member-states at present are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The decision was announced at the summit in Johannesburg in August 2023 to invite Argentina, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia to become full members of the organization from January 1, 2024.