The final Sherpa and Sous-Sherpa meeting of BRICS in Ekaterinburg concluded on Thursday with the ceremonial handover of the BRICS chairmanship from Russia to Brazil, marking the end of a pivotal year for the bloc under Russia’s leadership.
Sergey Ryabkov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa, reflected on the achievements of Russia’s presidency during the past year. Speaking at the meeting, he highlighted the progress made by BRICS nations in various sectors, including politics, security, economics, and humanitarian efforts.
“Frankly speaking, for us this is both a moment of sadness and a moment of joy,” Ryabkov remarked, adding the successful conclusion of Russia’s chairmanship and the new opportunities awaiting Brazil.
During its tenure, Russia organized over 250 events to strengthen cooperation within BRICS, with additional meetings still scheduled before the year’s end. Key accomplishments under Russia’s leadership include agreements on the establishment of a BRICS grain exchange, a contact group on climate and sustainable development, a geological, technological, and investment platform, and a working group on nuclear medicine.
Ryabkov expressed confidence that these achievements would provide a strong foundation for Brazil’s chairmanship, which begins immediately following the handover. He emphasized that Russia’s presidency was defined by resilience and strengthened cooperation, particularly amidst a year of significant global and regional developments.
A major highlight of Russia’s presidency was the XVI BRICS Summit, held in Kazan from October 22 to 24, which resulted in the adoption of the Kazan Declaration. The summit was marked by the expansion of BRICS, with the group officially welcoming Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia as full members in 2024. Additionally, Belarus, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand joined as BRICS partners earlier this year.
As the bloc transitions to Brazil’s leadership, Ryabkov expressed optimism that the successes of 2024 would propel further advancements in cooperation among BRICS nations. Brazil is expected to build on the foundations laid during Russia’s presidency to enhance collaboration among its members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and its new partners.
The ceremony marks the end of a transformative year for BRICS.
(Inputs from ANI)
